Things on the court didn't go too well, and off the court, fans took offense to Collin Chandler trying to sell hats after a brutal loss. But it wasn't always that way.
BBN was thrilled when Chandler followed Mark Pope from BYU to Kentucky. The former top-35 player was Captain Clutch for the Cats, but now, he has announced his exit via the Transfer Portal.
Chandler went on a two-year mission and delayed his college enrollment, so it naturally took him a little bit to get his athletic bounce back. But the flashes of brilliance shone through in highlight-reel dunks and great defensive anticipation. That led to a sophomore season that wasn't always great, but showed just how good Chandler could be.
BREAKING: Kentucky guard Collin Chandler has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, @PeteNakos reports. https://t.co/0A7Bg7bVhh pic.twitter.com/QPiKfLjcku
— On3 (@On3) April 8, 2026
The lone bright spot in a broken offense
Statistically, he was Kentucky's best shooter by a mile. He hit clutch shots against Arkansas and Tennessee. He stole the ball that gave the Cats the lead in Knoxville late. He threw the desperate inbounds pass to Malachi Moreno when the Cats needed a prayer answered in Baton Rouge. He gave everything he had every night he stepped on the floor.
He was great with fans, and took time to sign autographs and make videos. But more importantly, his history with Pope is a long one.
“We love Coach Pope. I’ve believed in Coach Pope since I was 15 years old," Chandler said after the loss to Iowa State. "I know what he can do, what he can be. The type of person he is. A type of person like that finds success. I’m riding with Coach Pope.”
The bond the two share through their faith created a great relationship on and off the court. But clearly, it wasn't enough to overcome the massive frustrations with how this season and the program have gone. And he is, in fact, no longer riding with Coach Pope.
A suffocating end to the season
This was supposed to be a fun, high-flying team that came at you in waves. Instead, it was more like a splash of water in the desert. Everything was a struggle, and Chandler was the only one who could consistently hit outside shots. Teams knew it, and they did all they could to take him away.
When Kentucky rolled into Gainesville to take on Florida on Valentine's Day, Chandler started a hot streak. He scored 18, 18, 10, 10, and 23 points in consecutive games. After that 23-point outburst, he only hit double digits one more time, a 15-point performance against Missouri in the SEC Tournament. It was clear that teams simply refused to let him get open.
And because the offense was so dysfunctional, Kentucky couldn't get him open. Without Chandler, Kentucky shot an abysmal 31 percent from deep. And looking ahead, they are only recruiting a couple of guys in the portal who shoot better than 37 percent.
Losing Chandler hurts not only because of his production, but because it shows the belief in Pope is waning. This is the player who has been on Pope's radar for nearly a decade. He is the player who was the crown jewel of Pope's recruiting. They were in lock step with one another. To see that bond broken means there are bigger things to worry about in Lexington. The fact that he has a Do Not Contact also means he knows where he is going; most signs point to BYU.
Now Chandler will develop for someone else, and I know he will be a great player. He has all the tools. It just won't happen at Kentucky. And that hurts for a lot of reasons.