Tongue out, sick, and clutch: Was that Collin Chandler or MJ?

by: Drew Franklin01/22/26DrewFranklinKSR

Collin Chandler drilled a three-pointer over Texas big man Matas Vokietaitis and gave the seven-footer the tongue-out staredown. Moments later, Chandler stuck his tongue out for the baseline cameras after a two-handed dunk in traffic, extending Kentucky’s lead to 11 late in the game. Very MJ of him. He did it again after the horn sounded on Kentucky’s 85-80 win over the Longhorns in Rupp Arena.

Jan 21, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Collin Chandler (5) celebrates with guard Walker Horn after the game against the Texas Longhorns at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Chandler was also very sick before starring in the win. Again, very MJ of him. He scored 14 points in the second half, part of an MVP night against the Longhorns. After missing the team’s shootaround with an illness, Chandler played 32 minutes in the win, scoring 18 points with seven rebounds, both career highs. He also made all six of his free throws and had two steals.

“He’s been so sick for the last few days,” Mark Pope said of Chandler after the game. “He’s been gutting out practice, lying in bed, cold sweats. You know how you just feel miserable for a couple of days. Body aching, and all he does is skip shootaround today, come to the game and give us an incredibly efficient 18 with seven rebounds and an incredible defensive effort. Collin was unbelievable.”

Chandler: Kentucky’s win streak has been brewing

In his postgame interview on the SEC Network, Chandler told the studio crew that he caught a case of what goes around every winter, but his energy felt great by game time. It also felt great to play with a lead after stealing a couple of thrillers on the road lately.

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“It was different than last week,” said Chandler, who was a part of the late-game heroics in Baton Rouge and Knoxville. “We weren’t having to dig ourselves out of a hole that we made, and so that felt great. I think that propelled us in the second half to be able to play free and be able to get a lead, and to be able to keep a lead, and that’s something we’re going to continue to work at.”

On Kentucky’s four-game win streak, Chandler believes it’s been brewing all season. He said they’ve learned and adapted at a fast pace at the right time of the season. See that interview here.