Optimism flooded the Joe Craft Center all offseason. Kentucky fans finally felt like Mark Pope had calmed the waters and built a roster ready to reset the program’s expectations. But that confidence lasted only until Oct. 17 — the night Jaland Lowe hit the Memorial Coliseum floor clutching his right shoulder.
In seconds, Big Blue Nation went from excitement to a chilling sense of déjà vu.
Lowe wasn’t just another newcomer. He was the centerpiece, the steady point guard Pope handpicked to steer his second Kentucky team. And the injury? It looked eerily similar to the shoulder issue that derailed Lamont Butler late last season.
There was hope, though. Lowe’s left-hand dominance minimized immediate fears, and early reports suggested the injury wasn’t as severe as Butler’s. He eased back into practice, skipped exhibitions and the opener, and eventually logged minutes against Valparaiso and Louisville — even playing 30 in the rivalry matchup.
And then came Nov. 13.
Late in practice, Lowe went down again, shouting for athletic trainer Brandon Wells. News spread through the fan base like wildfire. “Not this again,” fans muttered — the second time in less than a month.
As of Monday, the final diagnosis still isn’t public. Lowe’s father says the MRI didn’t reveal anything worse than the initial injury and pushed back against claims that his son’s season is in jeopardy. Optimists believe he’ll return. Realists know this storyline has repeated itself far too often.
No matter how you view it, one thing is clear:
Kentucky’s point guard curse isn’t gone — and Lowe’s injury just pulled the curtain back again.
A Legacy Built on Point Guard Greatness… Now Overshadowed by Instability
For a decade, Kentucky thrived because its point guards were elite.
John Wall reignited the program.
Brandon Knight delivered the Final Four.
Teague won the 2012 title.
Andrew Harrison led back-to-back deep runs.
Tyler Ulis became an all-time fan favorite.
De’Aaron Fox torched the NCAA Tournament.
After Fox, though, came turbulence.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was miscast early while Quade Green faltered.
Ashton Hagans’ Elite Eight turnovers still sting.
Injuries derailed TyTy Washington and Cason Wallace.
The Saint Peter’s loss with Sahvir Wheeler at the controls became an infamous turning point.
D.J. Wagner’s struggles helped fracture the relationship between Calipari and the fan base.
By the time Calipari left, a decade of PG stability had evaporated.
Pope’s First Season Only Deepened the Problem
Mark Pope stepped in hoping to reestablish order at the position — but fate had other plans.
Last year was chaos:
Butler sprained his ankle early.
Kriisa became the starter… then suffered a season-ending foot injury immediately.
Butler returned but hurt his shoulder.
Jaxson Robinson, the emergency option, later injured his wrist.
This season? Supposed to be different.
Pope rebuilt the backcourt with Lowe, Denzel Aberdeen, Collin Chandler, and Jasper Johnson.
Lowe took command instantly — the clear PG1.
Then came injury No. 1.
Then injury No. 2.
Even if he comes back soon, every fall, every shoulder bump, every awkward landing will make fans freeze.
In the meantime, the role falls to Aberdeen — reliable, confident, and talented — but now tasked with fighting ghosts he didn’t create.
The Most Infuriating Part? Nobody Could’ve Seen This Coming
This isn’t bad recruiting.
It’s not risky bets.
It’s rotten timing.
Butler had played 104 straight games pre-Kentucky.
Kriisa had no history of major injuries.
Robinson barely missed time at BYU.
Lowe played 64 of 65 at Pitt.
No warning signs.
No chronic issues.
Just bad luck — again.
When Pope was asked Friday about possibly adding a midseason point guard, he shut it down immediately:
“I’m really confident in the group we have. I think we just have so much growing to do.”
Kentucky can grow.
Kentucky can win big.
But this was not the conversation Pope expected to be having before Thanksgiving.
Not again.
