Lowe having surgery Out for season

UK_BlueBlood

All-American
May 21, 2002
4,248
9,117
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This needed to happen because there was no way Lowe was going to survive the season.

But it's ridiculously comical how much of a M.A.S.H unit the UK basketball team has become over the past several years.
 

FitchandMurray29

All-Conference
Dec 11, 2021
2,145
4,385
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Lowe will be fascinating to watch this offseason.

2026 was not a good class for PGs out of high school.

He was somewhere between 25 and 40 in portal rankings last year. Should be fully healthy this summer so knock him a bit for this year and the injury but many will still have him top 50-70 I’d assume in portal rankings if he transfers.

Assume both sides will back channel a lot before anything official comes out. Does Pope think he’s getting someone better? Does Lowe think he can get more elsewhere with a desperate PG market?

I think the biggest problem more than his ability is his style. Score first PG that doesn’t have the size to defend nor is a good shooter.
 
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Anon1759768907

All-Conference
Oct 6, 2025
1,252
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Lowe will be fascinating to watch this offseason.

2026 was not a good class for PGs out of high school.

He was somewhere between 25 and 40 in portal rankings last year. Should be fully healthy this summer so knock him a bit for this year and the injury but many will still have him top 50-70 I’d assume in portal rankings if he transfers.

Assume both sides will back channel a lot before anything official comes out. Does Pope think he’s getting someone better? Does Lowe think he can get more elsewhere with a desperate PG market?

I think the biggest problem more than his ability is his style. Score first PG that doesn’t have the size to defend nor is a good shooter.
kingston flemings and acuff arent good?
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,284
59,881
113
Hell, Lowe is liable to go to the portal anyways...

Why does everyone assume he'll return?

Almost every kid will go to the highest bidder going forward.

Honestly im fine with it. In fairness to him, he didnt really have a chance to get going.. but i also didnt see a PG that can win a title. And I dont really want to run that experiment.

This is gonna be a critical move for Pope, I want to see him go get a PG for next year, and not have Pope just put all his hopes on Lowe's shoulder. We need to treat this like a pro team. Lowe is compromised, and her got his full pay day. Sorry, but a just-decent player has seasin ending injury? You need to get his replacement.
 

wccat

All-American
Apr 8, 2009
4,399
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I think the opposite if we can get guard play like the last game. Lowe has a tendency to dribble too much and that was our offense. We need movement.
 

Weston36

Senior
Dec 1, 2025
300
406
63
Was Pope and staff aware of his proneness to injuries before he was offered or were they caught off guard? Because Pope and crew shouldn’t have any injury excuses if they knew before offering.
J Lowe did not have any major injury history before this season. He’s had ankle sprains before but nothing this significant.
 
Jan 30, 2004
104,816
10,864
78
Lowe will be fascinating to watch this offseason.

2026 was not a good class for PGs out of high school.

He was somewhere between 25 and 40 in portal rankings last year. Should be fully healthy this summer so knock him a bit for this year and the injury but many will still have him top 50-70 I’d assume in portal rankings if he transfers.

Assume both sides will back channel a lot before anything official comes out. Does Pope think he’s getting someone better? Does Lowe think he can get more elsewhere with a desperate PG market?

I think the biggest problem more than his ability is his style. Score first PG that doesn’t have the size to defend nor is a good shooter.
It's pretty clear he's not good enough. If we go into next year with him and Pope the program is done.
 
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FitchandMurray29

All-Conference
Dec 11, 2021
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It's pretty clear he's not good enough. If we go into next year with him and Pope the program is done.
Respectfully just don’t know how you can say it’s clear he’s not good enough. He literally never took the court for us when healthy.

I think it’s definitely a question which supports your overall sentiment because you can’t have much confidence in a must win year for Pope in Lowe off a significant injury.
 

Snarks

All-American
Jan 31, 2005
8,190
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Season was a disaster already. Not like we were tearing it up with him anyway.
 
Oct 9, 2015
13,386
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IMO, it's now the opposite. There is less uncertainty, roles will become more defined.

Time to turn to Jasper Johnson.

Honestly, I think that Jasper is and has been the answer for this team.

Just turn him loose and let him play!!

Losing Lowe at this point doesn't bother me at all...

This needed to happen because there was no way Lowe was going to survive the season.

But it's ridiculously comical how much of a M.A.S.H unit the UK basketball team has become over the past several years.

I think the opposite if we can get guard play like the last game. Lowe has a tendency to dribble too much and that was our offense. We need movement.

This could also be a blessing in disguise. Lowe probably isnt the type of PG to get us over the top. But Jasper seemingly has the talent and the tools to do it. Just have to get him there.

all of this. Not a bad thing in my eyes. Lowe isn’t the guard we need. Let’s see if JJ can be.
 

Argonaut

Senior
Jan 3, 2026
328
652
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I feel like after a win the majority kinda jump back on. We’re so screwed if pope is here next year.
Insane isn’t it? Some posters on here do a complete 180 based on if Kentucky wins or loses.

It’s hard to imagine things somehow turning around, especially now that Lowe is done for the season. Acting like we’re somehow better without him is ridiculous.
 
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Jan 30, 2004
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Respectfully just don’t know how you can say it’s clear he’s not good enough. He literally never took the court for us when healthy.

I think it’s definitely a question which supports your overall sentiment because you can’t have much confidence in a must win year for Pope in Lowe off a significant injury.
He's small and can't shoot, just nowhere near good enough. Might as well see if Wheeler has any eligibility left.
 
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peterpiper09

Junior
Mar 19, 2006
156
366
62
Smart to put this into action with 15 games left. Lowe needs the surgery obviously. Johnson obviously needs to get major minutes because his ceiling is much higher. Hate that Lowe is injured, but it could possibly mean Johnson becomes a player and has Lowe as a healthy backup next season. Now the staff doesn’t have to wonder from game to game when planning. Can move to the next chapter which could be really promising. Letting this fester until nearly the end of the season then have to change would’ve been terrible.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
48,819
67,676
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Honestly, I think that Jasper is and has been the answer for this team.

Just turn him loose and let him play!!

Losing Lowe at this point doesn't bother me at all...
This is where I'm at. I really think Jasper can make this team better, but that's if he can defend and share the ball
He's wired to score, so they'll need to work with him there, but he is very good off the bounce and he can shoot.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
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Honestly im fine with it. In fairness to him, he didnt really have a chance to get going.. but i also didnt see a PG that can win a title. And I dont really want to run that experiment.

This is gonna be a critical move for Pope, I want to see him go get a PG for next year, and not have Pope just put all his hopes on Lowe's shoulder. We need to treat this like a pro team. Lowe is compromised, and her got his full pay day. Sorry, but a just-decent player has seasin ending injury? You need to get his replacement.
Great post.

Yeah, I like Lowe, but he’s not the guy for what we want to do. He’s too small, can't defend and he goes into "I'm going to just score" mode a lot and the rest of the team stands there and watches.

It is very important that Pope gets at least 1 stud pg and a good back up for next year.
 
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