Kentucky basketball officially has its revenge.
Just one month after suffering a humiliating 25-point beatdown in Nashville, the Wildcats returned the favor on Saturday afternoon. Behind a career-best performance from Collin Chandler and a stifling defensive effort, Kentucky cruised to a 91-77 victory over No. 25 Vanderbilt in front of a raucous, blue-out crowd at Rupp Arena.
The tone was set on the very first play. Malachi Moreno dominated the glass for an offensive rebound and an immediate put-back, signaling that the Cats wouldn't be bullied inside this time around. Last time Kentucky outrebounded Kentucky, something that should never happen with Vandy's size.
Then came the Collin Chandler show.
The sophomore was absolutely unconscious in the opening minutes. Chandler buried three triples in the first six minutes alone, helping Kentucky get out to a lead that it would never relinquish.
Erasing the Nashville ghosts
Turnovers were the Achilles' heel for Kentucky in the first meeting; Vandy won that battle 28-8 in Nashville. But today? The script was flipped.
Kentucky used a critical four-minute stretch to force three Vandy turnovers, sparking a 7-0 run that pushed the lead to 15. By the under-eight timeout, it was all Wildcats, 34-18. Turnovers would even out with both teams getting 11 on the day.
The lead eventually swelled to 20, but a period of lackluster offense allowed the Commodores to creep back in. A bad closeout from Brandon Garrison resulted in three free throws for Duke Miles, capping a 7-0 Vandy run and cutting the lead to 13.
But Chandler wasn't finished.
With two minutes left in the half, he used a smooth pump fake to lose his defender before drilling his fifth three-pointer of the afternoon. He had plenty to say to the Vanderbilt bench afterward, and he backed it up on the next play by diving for a loose ball to regain possession for the Cats.
Weathering the storm
Vanderbilt attempted one last push to start the second half. Devin McGlockton had a wide-open look to cut the deficit to single digits, but the shot rimmed out. Kentucky immediately responded with four straight free throws to push the lead back to 16.
The dagger came just before the 12-minute timeout. McGlockton, Vandy's emotional leader, picked up his fourth foul on a dangerous play. After being whistled for a foul on Tyler Nickel, McGlockton threw a frustration elbow that caught Brandon Garrison in the face.
The resulting dead-ball technical allowed Kentucky to stretch the lead to 18 with 11:46 to go.
From there, the game devolved into a pickup style of play. Vanderbilt seemed resigned to their fate, while Kentucky was content to maintain the cushion and let the clock bleed out.
It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. Kentucky proved they have the maturity to learn from a blowout and the firepower to handle a Top 25 opponent when the lights are brightest. Kentucky knocked off Vandy 91-77.
The Cats were led by Otega Oweh and Collin Chandler, who finished with 23 each, while Denzel Aberdeen was again fabulous. The senior finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and no turnovers.
Up next is Texas A&M on the road.