News broke earlier today that Collin Chandler was feeling under the weather and had not participated in the team's shootaround.
Immediately, Big Blue Nation began to worry. Was the roster about to take another hit before the ball even tipped?
Luckily for Kentucky, Chandler not only found his way onto the floor—he evoked the GOAT in a career-defining performance.
Collin Chandler's "flu game"
Michael Jordan’s "Flu Game" in the 1997 NBA Finals is the stuff of legend. With the series tied 2-2 against the Jazz, a visibly sick Jordan refused to let the Bulls lose, pouring in 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals en route to a title.
Collin Chandler didn't score 38, but for a Kentucky team desperate for a win, his impact was just as vital.
Despite the sickness, Chandler scored a career-high 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting, adding 7 rebounds and 2 steals. He was the spark that kept the engine running when it looked like it was about to stall.
Closing the door
The game was a war of attrition. Kentucky would pull away, and like a yo-yo, Texas would come right back.
With the Cats holding a slim advantage late, Chandler decided to shut the door himself. He went on a personal 9-0 run, draining a corner three, forcing a turnover, and capping it with a thunderous breakaway dunk to put the Cats up 11.
Without that burst, Kentucky likely doesn't survive Texas' furious late push.
The Longhorns managed to cut the lead to 2 with just under a minute to go. But unlike the Missouri collapse, Kentucky held firm, closing it out 85-80.
Chandler’s numbers will go in the box score, but the grit to play through illness and deliver a career night is what will go in the memory bank. It was the win Kentucky desperately needed to stay on track in the SEC, and they have their sick sophomore to thank for it.
Now we just have to make sure Kam Williams is good to go.