Why increased role for Kentucky basketball's freshman trio is important for the future
LEXINGTON — Collin Chandler, Trent Noah and Travis Perry weren't expected to play significant roles this season for Kentucky basketball. It's no knock on the freshman trio's talent, of course. It's just that the way coach Mark Pope constructed the Wildcats' 2024-25 roster, he leaned — heavily — on the transfer portal.
The nine transfers UK brought in consisted of seven seniors and a junior; sophomore Brandon Garrison was the lone underclassman.
Through a combination of injuries befalling veterans, and their own in-season improvement, Chandler, Noah and Perry have started to take the floor more and more. And while Kentucky's season is close to over — it's now in the middle of the NCAA Tournament, where it faces sixth-seeded Illinois on Sunday, with a Sweet 16 berth on the line — as the calendar has flipped to March, the present is less important than the future for the first-year triumvirate.
Their play this season proves they will be key building blocks next season. And beyond.
Here's a look at the progress the triad has made during their freshman campaigns — with insight from each player as well as Pope:
Collin Chandler
Of note: Chandler had played 10-plus minutes in a game just seven times his first 21 appearances this season. Starting with UK's contest against Vanderbilt on Feb. 19, he hit the double-digit-minutes mark seven times in the next eight games, including a career-high 22 in the team's dramatic SEC Tournament win over Oklahoma. Included in that stretch were games in which Chandler set personal bests for points (11, versus LSU), rebounds (six, in the previously mentioned Vandy game) and assists (four, also against LSU).
What Chandler said about his season so far: "There has been a huge learning curve, especially coming back from not playing a lot (after serving a two-year Mormon mission). I've had to work hard to get back. But also opportunities are ways that I can also get better. It's a fast way to learn: when you're getting in-game experience."
What Pope said about Chandler's growth: "You guys know the deal about these bamboo trees? So, if you think about a bamboo forest — I think the 'Guinness Book of World Records' (for bamboo tree growth) is 36 inches in a day, 35 inches in a day. What happens is they grow over time and they grow these massive networks of roots and they grow and grow and grow, and you don't see it, right? And all of a sudden, they shoot up out of the ground and they are growing almost a yard a day, which is almost incomprehensible. That's a little bit of Collin Chandler. He's been growing big-time roots. … He is going to help us in a huge way as we move down the stretch.""
Trent Noah
Of note: Noah hasn't started a game this season. That's in part because, unlike the backcourt where Chandler and Perry roam, the frontcourt, where Noah plays, hasn't had nearly as many injury issues. He's made his presence felt when he's had the chance, though. Noah's best efforts this season occurred in back-to-back games. He set a career high for points (11) against Tennessee on Feb. 11, and then a career-best six rebounds four days later at Texas. (He later pulled down six rebounds in the SEC Tournament tilt versus Oklahoma.)
What Noah said about his season so far: "I feel like it's been going well. I've gotten to learn so much from the older guys and my teammates and coaches. There's so much I can take away from that. I'm just trying to get better day by day. You never know what's going to come until it's here. So I just try to cherish every opportunity and stay in the moment and play as hard as I can for the team."
What Pope said about Noah's growth: "I give all the credit to Trent Noah's family and his community where he grew up. Because this is what he is: He comes every single day — and he gets no love from us. He's not a featured guy in practice. He's not getting the media attention. … He comes (to practice) every single day and competes with full intensity and incredible physicality. I say this all the time: He has a clear heart and incredible focus. He's like a sponge learning. When you do that every single day, that's the part that people don’t see. … He is just built different, man. He's really special. He’s a really special player, and he’s going to continue to get better and better."
Travis Perry
Of note: Perry, the all-time leading scorer in the history of Kentucky high school basketball, found his way onto the floor as a reserve in 21 of the Wildcats' first 24 games. But after starting point guard Lamont Butler went down with a shoulder injury against Tennessee on Feb. 11, Perry was moved into the lineup, taking on more ball-handling duties in the process. Upon Butler's return, Perry returned to being a reserve. It's never been his natural position; he's more shooting guard than a point man. Yet he ably manned his role whenever called upon. His best showing this season, by a significant margin: He recorded career highs in points (12) and steals (four) in a loss at Alabama on Feb. 22.
What Perry said about his season so far: "I've definitely been thrown into some increased roles that weren't expected to be (available) for me this year. So just having to go out there and take advantage of the opportunities, but also take advantage of getting to play with these great guys and learn the college basketball level from them has been really important, I think, for my development."
What Pope said about Perry's growth: "He's fearless, and he goes about his business. He's going to make some mistakes, because he's young, and everybody makes mistakes in this game. But he's fully capable. He's unbelievably confident — really, really aggressive. He's made huge plays in huge games for us. … He'll be really good for us."
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: Freshman triumvirate showing marked improvement
-
Why was Kentucky basketball freshman Trent Noah missing from NCAA Tournament watch party?
Kentucky basketball freshman forward Trent Noah wasn't in attendance for the team's NCAA Tournament watch party Sunday. Why was Noah absent from it?Yahoo Sports - Mar. 17 -
Kentucky basketball positioned for 2025 March Madness success. Here's why | C.L. Brown
Kentucky basketball roster doesn't include much March Madness experience. Still, UK could see NCAA Tournament success because of its veteran roster.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Why officials took points away from Alabama basketball to change halftime score vs Kentucky
Alabama basketball faithful watching from home might be curious why the scoreboard changed for the Crimson Tide before halftime against Kentucky.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Will Kerr Kriisa return for Kentucky basketball? What he said ahead of March Madness game
Will Kerr Kriisa return for Kentucky basketball next season? Here's what the guard said about his future ahead of UK vs Troy March Madness 2025 game.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Kentucky women's basketball season over, but Kenny Brooks has Cats set up for success
March Madness is over for Kentucky basketball, but Kenny Brooks set the bar high in his first season. Here's how he primed Cats for sustained success.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Ranking best freshmen in college basketball: Michigan State's Jase Richardson earns Freshman of the Week
A look at the top performing freshmen in college basketball last week and for the 2024-25 seasonCBS Sports - Mar. 11 -
Kentucky good with NCAA draw, Louisville not so much
Selection Sunday left the teams-coaches of greatest interest to us here in the Bluegrass with some mixed feelings as the NCAA Tournament draw was revealed. Kentucky as a three seed has a path in ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 17 -
Will Lamont Butler return for Kentucky basketball? Injury update during SEC Tournament
Lamont Butler, Kentucky basketball's starting point guard, departed in the middle of the first half Thursday during UK's opening game in Nashville.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
Why Alabama basketball was without its analytics team in SEC Tournament win over Kentucky
Alabama basketball had all it needed on the floor Friday to dispatch Kentucky from the SEC Tournament, but why didn't it have its analytics team?Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15
More from Yahoo Sports
-
JuJu Watkins knee injury: Social media reacts to injury of USC women's basketball star
USC women's basketball star JuJu Watkins hurt her knee in the first quarter of the Trojans' second-round game. The sports world reacts on social mediaYahoo Sports - 19m -
TGL: Billy Horschel, Atlanta claim first match in best-of-three series against New York
It came down to a single putt, but Atlanta Drive GC took the first match by the narrowest of margins over New York.Yahoo Sports - 21m -
UNC's Alyssa Ustby missed senior day due to injury. March Madness offered her another home finale
There was less than a minute left in the final home game of Alyssa Ustby's North Carolina career. Victory was in hand, along with a ticket to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. Two days after ...Yahoo Sports - 22m -
Luka Doncic: Lakers 'got a little bit satisfied' during recent eight-game winning streak
After the Lakers lost their third game in a row on Monday, Luka Doncic said they may have gotten complacent after winning eight in a row recently.Yahoo Sports - 23m -
How did Johnny Furphy perform in the G League? Stats for Mad Ants in career-high game
Pacers rookie Johnny Furphy set a new career high in scoring Monday on assignment in the G League, leading the Mad Ants against the Bulls.Yahoo Sports - 28m
More in Sports
-
Why the NBA could be headed for 'worst tanking stretch we've ever seen'
Teams are getting really good at tanking. Can the NBA do anything more to stop it? Here's what's next for the race to the bottom.ESPN - 17m -
JuJu Watkins injures knee: USC star carried off floor after being knocked down in Women's March Madness game
Watkins was unable to put any weight on her right kneeCBS Sports - 19m -
JuJu Watkins injures knee: USC star carried off floor after being knocked down in Women's March Madness game
Watkins was unable to put any weight on her right kneeCBS Sports - 19m -
JuJu Watkins knee injury: Social media reacts to injury of USC women's basketball star
USC women's basketball star JuJu Watkins hurt her knee in the first quarter of the Trojans' second-round game. The sports world reacts on social mediaYahoo Sports - 19m -
TGL: Billy Horschel, Atlanta claim first match in best-of-three series against New York
It came down to a single putt, but Atlanta Drive GC took the first match by the narrowest of margins over New York.Yahoo Sports - 21m