Then & Now: Derrick Chandler

Then & Now: Derrick Chandler

Compiled By Dave Brandon (Photo Courtesy NU Media Relations)

Derrick

Chandler, a 6’11” center originally from

w:st="on">Hyattsville

appeared in the NCAA tournament both seasons he played at

w:st="on">Nebraska

 Individually, Chandler

holds the career record for blocked shots in a season at

w:st="on">Nebraska

away ninety-one shots in 1991-1992. Besides this,

w:st="on">Chandler

shots and career-rebound average at

w:st="on">Nebraska

Derrick recently joined Husker Hoops Central for an

exclusive look at his life, both then and now.

HHC: First off, thanks a lot for

taking the time to update us on your life.

DC: Not a problem, I’m happy to do

this.

HHC: You obviously had a lot of

success while at Nebraska,

both as a team and as an individual player.  Before we get into that,

tell us how you ended up at

w:st="on">Nebraska

school that is viewed as a “football school?”

DC: At the time, I wanted to be a

part of something new, and I felt that the program was up and coming, so

I think that’s one of the main reasons I came.  The other was the high

graduation rate that

w:st="on">Nebraska

HHC: Have you been back to

w:st="on">Lincoln

what are your favorite memories of the town itself?

DC: Last time I was in

w:st="on">Lincoln

in 1994, and then I came back again in 2000 to visit a couple of

friends, Jamar Johnson and Terrance Badgett.  As for favorite memories,

the town has grown so much since I’ve been there, so I can’t remember

specific places, but wow!  I just remember you could get ten-cent

chicken wings across the railroad tracks over there, you could take $5,

and you could go and eat an awful lot.

HHC: (laughs) I know where you’re

talking about – didn’t that place have cheap tacos too?

DC: Yeah, yeah!  I can’t remember the

name, (laughs.)

HHC: We can’t either, but it went out

of business a couple of years back.  Anyway, you were a force in the

paint while in

w:st="on">Lincoln

career blocked shots and rebounding.  What kind of mindset did it take

to accomplish that success right off the bat at such a high level of

competition after coming from Alvin (TX.) JUCO?

DC: I think tenacity and just wanting

it more than your opponent was the key.  That was one of my strengths; I

didn’t want to feel that somebody was working harder than me on the

court.  I think that when you bring an attitude like that, your

teammates and the fans feed off that.

HHC: A lot of people remember you for

your defense, but you were also second on the team as a senior in

scoring, at 11.2 PPG.  What did you take more pride in, blocking a shot

or scoring, and why?

DC: If you asked me that now, I would

say probably blocking a shot.  And, I guess that back then, I would say

the same thing, because blocking a shot can totally change the tempo of

a game.

HHC: You were involved in a lot of

big games at

Nebraska, but

which game sticks out most, and any particular plays that you made

personally?

DC: The game that sticks out most

would have to be against

w:st="on">Kansas

Kansas was

ranked like #7. We were losing almost the whole game, and then we made a

run. We were down two points with like 0.5 seconds on the clock, and

Jamar (Johnson) hit that three-pointer in the corner with no seconds on

the clock.  That was one of the highlights as a team.  For me

personally, I would say the game against Oklahoma when I had like

eighteen points and twenty rebounds, and coach Nee told me “you should

have had thirty,” (laughs.)

HHC: Speaking of coach Nee, what was

it like playing under him, and do you remember any classic Danny Nee

moments?

DC: Coach was funny; he’s a great guy

and great motivator.  He let our team achieve great things with not a

lot of talent by making us reach from within and overachieve.  Its sad

he’s not there anymore, but I understand that people move on.  One of

best stories I can remember was when we were playing

w:st="on">Oklahoma

didn’t too much care for Billy Tubbs, and Tubbs didn’t care too much for

coach, it was obvious.  It was my senior year, and coach Nee said, “We

want to score 100 points on Tubbs, we’re not going to let these Sooners

beat us. We want to run them out the gym, so all we’re doing today is

shooting.”  So he took a timeout and said, “What are you doing, we need

to shoot more.” You gotta love coach.

HHC: Classic. And now about the

“now.” Before we get into what you are doing today, how long did your

professional basketball career last after you left

w:st="on">Nebraska

it take you?

DC: I think I had a good run - I left

Nebraska and first went to

w:st="on">Turkey

year after that I played in

w:st="on">Spain

the Suns before going to

w:st="on">France

w:st="on">France

I actually played with Tony Farmer and Eric Johnson, which was a lot of

fun.  Then I played in

w:st="on">Italy

back and tearing my Achilles twice while trying to make the Bullets and

Mavericks. I had a good run, almost ten years, or eight years total.

HHC: And today, what is Derrick

Chandler up to, both personally and professionally?

DC: Personally, I’m married with two

great kids.  Professionally, I’m the Assistant Director of the

Foundation For Adventist Health Care.  I’m not too active anymore

playing ball, but I like to go watch. I’m mostly just focusing on my

career.

HHC: Sounds like everything is going

well. Hey, your former teammate Bruce Chubick was on the site last week,

and he agreed to take e-mail from the fans. If we create you an e-mail

account through our website, would you be willing to take some e-mails

at

derrick@huskerhoopscentral.com ?

DC: Yeah, I don’t mind, I love to see

and hear from Nebraska

fans. Here in the D.C. area, I don’t get to read or bump into them much,

so that would be great to hear from some Huskers!

HHC: Thanks a lot for taking the time

to update us on where “DC” is these days.

DC: Not a problem, I think this is

great what you are doing for the program, and I know a lot of my old

teammates agree with me.<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">