Collin Chandler's outside shot is 'clicking right now' as he continues to get more comfortable

Kentucky sophomore Collin Chandler is on an impressive hot shooting streak right now — one that goes all the way back to his breakout stretch in March.

We’ll start with what he’s done through two regular season games to start the 2025-26 season, though. Chandler went 4-7 from three-point range in the opener against Nicholls and then shot 4-8 in game two a few days later against Valparaiso. The 6-foot-5 guard leads Kentucky in scoring right now at 14.5 points per outing, his 8-15 (53.3 percent) clip from deep easily the best on the team. No other Wildcat has even attempted more than eight three-pointers.

Chandler has played 24 and 23 minutes, respectively, through Kentucky’s first two games. He saw over 20 minutes just once as a freshman in 2024-25. More playing time has led to more comfortability.

“I think a big thing is comfort,” Chandler said Monday when asked why he’s been shooting so well. “There’s a lot going through your mind and your body with adrenaline. And being in games — you can shoot as much as you want in an open gym or practice, but it’s different when it comes to games. Comfort level is big, so the more I play the more comfortable I’m feeling.”

Even going back to the end of last season, Chandler started to shoot the ball better as his playing time increased. Throughout the month of March, he shot 12-23 (52.2 percent) from long range while averaging 16.6 minutes per game.

That hot shooting then carried over into the offseason, and at least through two games, into the start of the new season. His newfound gravity as a shooter has helped open opportunities for himself as a playmaker, which leads to better looks for his teammates. Chandler has posted four assists in each of his two games this season (with only two combined turnovers). He had just one game with four assists last season.

“I’m shooting the ball well right now, which has been big for me, just because I feel like it’s opened up a lot for me and my teammates for making plays for others,” Chandler said. “But I think that’s the thing that’s clicking right now, is my shot.”

Being bumped into a larger role this season has helped Chandler with his confidence. He knows he’s going back into games now after being sent to the bench, which wasn’t always the case last season, even when he played well in March. Chandler also added that associate coach Mark Fox helped alter his shooting form a bit. He says he used to fade and lean back on his jumpers in high school, but Fox has taught him to jump forward.

It’s not just shooting that Chandler has taken a leap in so far this season, either — he’s also looked the part of a much-improved defender. We all knew he had a highlight dunk in him somewhere before he finally unleashed one against Nicholls. Finding his rhythm as a ball handler is still a work in progress, he says, but that hasn’t been much of an issue when he’s hitting over half his shots from the perimeter.

“As soon as I see one go in,” Chandler said. “That’s usually enough to get me going.”

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