Now that’s exactly what Mark Pope built this Kentucky basketball team to do.
Just three days after an uneven start to the season, the Wildcats came back to Rupp Arena looking sharp, confident, and completely in sync. The result? A 107–59 rout of Valparaiso that showed what this team can look like when it’s locked in from the jump.
Kentucky hit its first six shots from the field and led by double digits before point guard Jaland Lowe — making his long-awaited UK debut — even entered the game. Once he did, the energy somehow climbed higher. His first possession ended with an assist to Denzel Aberdeen for a corner three. His next trip down the floor? A strong layup, shoulder brace and all, for his first points as a Wildcat.
“Getting him back changes their team,” Valparaiso coach Roger Powell Jr. said. “He controls the pace, sees everything, makes plays. He’s a huge piece they were missing.”
Lowe finished with six points, five assists, no turnovers, and a big smile that said it all. “It felt amazing,” he said. “I told Otega mid-game it felt like a fever dream. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
Offensively, Kentucky looked unstoppable — scoring 58 points in the first half, a new high in the Pope era. But what impressed the coaching staff even more was the effort on defense. Valpo shot just 28.4% from the field and struggled to find clean looks all night.
“They’re long, they’re physical, and their length gave us problems,” Powell said. “They made everything tough.”
That’s exactly the kind of identity Pope wants to see. “We’re trying to live on the defensive end,” he said. “It’s hard, but that’s where we want to set our standard. I was proud of our effort.”
This was a full-team performance. Ten Wildcats played at least 15 minutes; none played more than 23. Freshman Malachi Moreno had a breakout night, posting 18 points and 10 rebounds in just his second college game. Collin Chandler stayed hot from deep with 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three. Otega Oweh added 15 points, Mouhamed Dioubate had 14, and both Brandon Garrison and Denzel Aberdeen chipped in 12 apiece.
Even freshman guard Jasper Johnson made his presence felt — scoring nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from three and handing out a team-high five assists.
The numbers told the story: 27 assists on 37 made baskets, 84.6% from the line, and near-40% from deep. From start to finish, Kentucky looked like a team with purpose.
And it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Next up: Louisville.
The rivalry renews Tuesday night at the Yum Center, and both sides are entering hot. The Cardinals have been rolling through their early schedule, and forward Kasean Pryor decided to spice things up after their last win, saying, “We’ll see you guys Tuesday… after a win,” before adding an expletive aimed at Kentucky.
The Cats didn’t bite.
“Honestly, no reaction,” Moreno said. “We’re just keeping our focus in-house. Getting ready for Tuesday.”
Lowe smiled when he heard the quote. “It’s a rivalry — that’s what makes it fun,” he said. Then, with a grin, he added, “They can talk. We’ll save our chirping for during the game… and after the game — when we win.”
With their offense humming, defense locked in, and confidence sky-high, this Kentucky team looks like it’s finding its rhythm right when it matters most.
Louisville is next. And this time, the Cats look ready to make a statement.
