Leaving a program in unrest to move back to your home state (with your wife, no less), is one thing; few Kentucky fans were hard on Collin Chandler earlier this offseason when he decided to transfer to BYU in the midst of what was basically a mass exodus. Now though, the Big Blue Nation is beginning to sour on someone who previously helped define Mark Pope's first two years in Lexington.
Chandler, in an appearance on the Y's Guys Live, threw some shameless shade at the (real) blue and white as he attempted to shine a light on his decision to become a Cougar once again, where he was initially committed.
"I want to be a part of a program that cares about their athletics," Chandler began. That's bad enough, I know, but he went on.
“I want to be a part of a program that cares about their athletics.” — Collin Chandler@collinchand13r opens up about what brought him back to BYU and why this program stood out above the rest.
— Y’s Guys Live (@YsGuysLive) June 26, 2026
Good things ahead for the Cougars.#GoCougs #BYUHoops #BYUBasketball #YsGuysLive pic.twitter.com/sV31vqR2NI
"... who have a passion for the game and for the sport, and energy. So, I think that was on perfect display, in that game, of what I was going to be experiencing as a Cougar."
The replies to the above clip, as expected, are filled with Kentucky fans as confused as you and I. It's a good ol' fashioned Big Blue firestorm on X.
A Big Blue Firestorm of Replies
"You where treated with the utmost class and love and you wanna go say something like this. When and if you come back to visit us fans won't forget," said one Cats fan, echoing a sentiment not at all uncommon in these comments.
Another went as far as to tag Chandler himself, adding, "what an asinine interview. It was home and more money, period. Good grief." Harsh? Absolutely, but there's a point to be made here between the financial lines.
Even Matt Jones of KSR chimed in, simply saying, "Just say it was for more money… it’s totally fine"
After two seasons at Kentucky, between which Chandler saw a sizable leap in playing time and production, Pope simply wasn't ready to match the Cougars' supestar offer.
The Cougars' Superstar Offer
According to Tristan Pharis and A Sea of Blue back when Chandler left Lexington in April, Kentucky was ready to pay Chandler around the $2 million mark to return for the 2026-27 season.
BYU, on the other hand, reportedly offered upwards of $3 million to pry him away from his post with Mark Pope. I liked Chandler as much as any other Kentucky fan, but the latter price for a 9-points-per-game scorer seems a little outlandish.
Is there some bad blue blood here? We can't know for sure, but one thing is certain: Given both this newfound Chandler drama and the whole Rob Wright III transfer debacle from earlier this offseason, BYU may have officially moved into rival territory for Kentucky.
If the two teams somehow meet in March Madness, we could be in for a legacy matchup for both parties. Chandler especially would be facing a soured fanbase that, regardless of where that hypothetical games takes place, just so happens to travel really well.
Could that be because Kentucky fans care about their athletics? No, surely not...
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