With chatter picking up around a possible midseason point guard addition for Kentucky, Mark Pope made it clear this week that he’s not buying into the idea — even with Jaland Lowe continuing to manage a lingering shoulder issue.
Ahead of the Wildcats’ matchup with Bellarmine, Pope addressed the speculation head-on. The second-year head coach said he fully expects Lowe to remain available the rest of the season and doesn’t believe outside help is necessary.
“I have every expectation Jaland is going to be with us the whole season,” Pope said. “We’re excited about that.”
Lowe’s availability has naturally become a talking point after a scary moment against St. John’s, when he lasted just seven seconds in the first half before appearing to re-aggravate his injured right shoulder — the third such incident since October. For a moment, Big Blue Nation braced for the worst.
Then Lowe came back.
After warming up at halftime, the junior guard returned to the floor for 15 minutes in the second half and delivered his best performance of the season: 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, three assists, and three rebounds. Kentucky likely doesn’t escape with a win without him.
Pope admitted he was surprised to see Lowe back out there.
“As we finished our halftime meeting, Brandon Wells came to me and said, ‘I think he’s okay to go,’” Pope said. “A lot of adrenaline, for sure. But Jaland was confident, said he felt strong — and he played elite-level basketball.”
While Lowe’s health remains something Kentucky will monitor closely, Pope emphasized that the roster already has answers if something does go wrong. He pointed specifically to Denzel Aberdeen and Jasper Johnson as players capable of handling point guard responsibilities.
“We have a great roster,” Pope said. “I’m not sure we’re shopping right now. Jasper is growing into a starring role, and D.A. is getting more and more comfortable running the point and playing off the ball.”
In short, Pope likes what he has.
“I love our roster,” he said. “We believe in this group, and we think we have an incredible run ahead of us.”
That confidence extends to Lowe, even as soreness remains part of the equation.
“He’s pretty sore today,” Pope said. “We’ll see how it feels tomorrow. We’re going to proceed with caution, but he’s bounced back quickly before. He’s got great basketball in him.”
For now, Kentucky is staying the course — trusting Lowe’s toughness, the roster’s depth, and the belief that this team’s best basketball is still ahead as SEC play approaches.
