After nearly a month on the sideline, Jaland Lowe finally returned to action for Kentucky on Friday night. But instead of sparking a turnaround, his comeback only highlighted just how many issues the Wildcats are dealing with as they were run off the floor in a 94-59 loss to Gonzaga at Bridgestone Arena.
Lowe, who had missed five straight games with a right shoulder injury, played 14 minutes while wearing a large protective brace. The rust was obvious. He went 0-for-5 from the field, including two missed threes, and finished with one point, one rebound, one assist, and one turnover. During his time on the floor, Kentucky was outscored by 12.
“Being out there felt good,” Lowe said after the game. “I don’t take the game of basketball for granted anymore. Any chance I get to play, I’m going to enjoy it, win or lose.”
The shoulder injury has lingered since October, when Lowe—expected to be Kentucky’s starting point guard—was hurt during the Blue-White Game. He returned briefly for early-season games against Valparaiso and Louisville before reinjuring the same shoulder in practice. Friday marked his first action since then, and despite absorbing several bumps and falls, he avoided setbacks.
Head coach Mark Pope said Lowe’s clean bill of health was one of the few positives in an otherwise brutal night. “He gave us some pace and some life,” Pope said. “But he still has a lot of rust to knock off. He’s a work in progress, and we’re taking things day-to-day with that shoulder.”
Kentucky’s injury situation goes far beyond Lowe. Junior forward Mouhamed Dioubate missed his fourth straight game due to a high ankle sprain, which Pope revealed includes a torn ligament. Meanwhile, the Wildcats continue to wait for the long-anticipated debut of sophomore forward Jayden Quaintance, the top offseason addition, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered late last season at Arizona State. Pope said Quaintance has begun participating in full-court 5-on-5 sessions with staff.
Kentucky now returns home to face North Carolina Central on Tuesday night at Rupp Arena, hoping to steady a season rapidly slipping into dangerous territory.
