In basketball, development is rarely linear. Some players burst onto the scene, fully formed and ready. Others take time, growing beneath the surface, unseen, until one day, they break through.
For Kentucky’s Colin Chandler, that moment arrived Wednesday night in an 82-61 win over Vanderbilt. It wasn’t just his stat line—7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in 15 minutes—it was his presence. His energy. His impact.
And if you ask Mark Pope, Chandler isn’t just a player. He’s a bamboo tree.
The Bamboo Analogy
“We talk about these bamboo trees,” Pope said after the game. “You guys know the deal about these bamboo trees?”
Pope went on to describe how certain species of bamboo, after years of unseen growth beneath the surface, can suddenly shoot up at an astonishing rate—sometimes as much as 35 inches in a single day. It’s in the Guinness Book of World Records.
For years, nothing seems to happen. Then, all at once, the roots that have been growing, stretching, strengthening, finally break through.
“Colin has been growing big-time roots,” Pope said. “He has a skill set that is unique to our team, and he is going to help in a huge way down the stretch.”
A Special Burst
Chandler’s performance against Vanderbilt wasn’t just productive—it was explosive. He brought a jolt of energy, using his athleticism to attack the glass, disrupt passing lanes, and make hustle plays that swung momentum.
“Massive for us tonight,” Pope said. “He’s got a special burst.”
For a team that has battled inconsistency and injuries, Chandler’s emergence could be a game-changer. He doesn’t need to be the star. He just needs to be the guy who makes winning plays, who comes in and makes a difference.
And like the bamboo tree, once he starts growing, there’s no telling how high he’ll go.