The Kentucky men’s basketball team has spent the entire summer and fall playing against each other. From practice to scrimmages, it’s been just the Cats against the Cats for months now.
On Wednesday night, UK will get its chance as the Cats face Kentucky Wesleyan in an exhibition game at Rupp Arena (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network Plus).
Freshman Colin Chandler says that Kentucky is definitely ready to be playing against outside competition.
“We’re excited. We’re so excited,” Chandler said. “We’re excited to give other people headaches, other than ourselves. To be able to compete together is something that’s really exciting.”
Fans got their first look at the 2024-25 Cats on Friday night in the Blue-White game inside Historic Memorial Coliseum. Forward Andrew Carr led all scorers with 25 points, while Chandler led his White squad with 19 points.
Chandler is still working his way back into form after taking two years away from the game to complete his two-year mission trip. He says that things are starting to come back to him now.
“I’m starting to get my legs under me a little bit,” Chandler said. “I’m trying to be aggressive to feel the game out. I feel like that’s coming back and I’m feeling very comfortable out on the floor. I’m feeling good. It’s come back faster than I had hoped.”
The Cats showed in the Blue-White game that they are willing, and able, to get shots for their teammates. The two teams combined to dish out 30 assists on 47 made baskets in the exhibition. Chandler said that being selfless has been a major point of emphasis in practice.
“I think our big focus lately has been making plays for our teammates,” Chandler said. “Focusing on what we can do to assist our teammates. Not even just passing but screening, setting real screens, getting each other open. If that’s our thought process and we worry about our teammates getting shots, then we think everything’s going to work out.”
What does Chandler expect to learn from Wednesday night’s exhibition game?
“We’ve been practicing coming together,” Chandler said. “I think we’re going to learn how to lean on each other.”
The Cats will be facing a program that has had a ton of success over the years. Kentucky Wesleyan was 21-9 last season, falling in the Division II Midwest Region Championship to Upper Iowa. The Panthers have won an NCAA Division II record eight national championships (1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1990, 1999, 2001). Chandler and the Cats hope to be ready for KWC on Wednesday night.
“We’ve watched film, talked about personnel. These guys can play. That’s what we’ve seen on film. We’re going to be ready for them. They’re very good players and we’re coming in ready to respond to that.”
The Cats have been waiting for the opportunity to play against someone else, and they get that chance on Wednesday night when tradition-rich Kentucky Wesleyan visits Rupp Arena.
