The value of a true point guard…

[Smeegs]

…has truly been on display these last 2 games since Lowe returned. The offense runs so SO much better when he is on the floor.

And that’s despite the fact that he’s trying to play with a seriously injured shoulder that dearly needs surgery. Imagine what we could do with a healthy point….

 

[MidseasonTweak]

Lowe played very well today, shoulder and all. I feel stupid to have called him soft a week or so ago. Please forgive me Lowe!

 

[Cats4321]

He is much better than I thought...even with the injury. .Just have to figure out a way to manage this injury through a tough SEC schedule .

 

[KyLegacyBBN]

It’s truly mind boggling that Pope didn’t get a back up. Either way, if Lowe can stay healthy then this team has a chance now that JQ is playing.

 

[chattanogawildcat]

But, but, he is soft and it was just St John's

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Props to Lowe for coming back in. He dominated their PG. He went anywhere he wanted to on the court.

 

[oldsports_]

Too many regulars on this board are obviously too stupid to understand the value of a true point guard.
Faaaaar Pope!

 

[FLBBNFAN]

It’s truly mind boggling that Pope didn’t get a back up. Either way, if Lowe can stay healthy then this team has a chance now that JQ is playing.

Think JJ should be the designated back up PG. Aberdeen is not it and Chandler is struggling right now when he's running the point . JJ can beat his guy off the dribble and more minutes will help him adjust.

 

[AFKY_Blue_RedsBengals]

Indeed, a much better team offensively with Lowe running the show!

 

[BarefootBeach]

It’s truly mind boggling that Pope didn’t get a back up. Either way, if Lowe can stay healthy then this team has a chance now that JQ is playing.

Acaden lewis says hello

 

[KyLegacyBBN]

Think JJ should be the designated back up PG. Aberdeen is not it and Chandler is struggling right now when he's running the point . JJ can beat his guy off the dribble and more minutes will help him adjust.

Yeah, it’s tough. Aberdeen has better handling than JJ but not good vision. JJ better offense.

 

[true-blue1]

We definitely need J Lowe to stay healthy!

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Yeah, it’s tough. Aberdeen has better handling than JJ but not good vision. JJ better offense.

No doubt its a tough choice and puts us in a bind with no true backup PG.

 

[Fawrules]

Can we start a GoFundMe to get Jaland a cybernetic arm for Christmas? The offense is night and day with him on the court.

 

[Smeegs]

It’s truly mind boggling that Pope didn’t get a back up.

It was baffling when he gave the final roster spots to bigs like Hawthorne and Potter when the roster was already overstocked was bigs and had a glaring hole with no backup point. I don’t know what Pope was thinking there.

Acaden Lewis backing out was a bad break, but there was PLENTY of time to pursue another guard after his decommit … instead, he just added more unneeded bigs.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

I figured he was done for several more games + after he left so early. He showed he has grit by coming back in and playing the way he did.

 

[BCD]

I’ll have ulcers by seasons end. Our PG’s shoulder is held together bubble gum and spit.
I get nervous when he gets a high five.
while today was great, it’s also a clear indicator that we are so close to an injury just tanking this team.
Lowe is a willing passer who can beat teams off the dribble. We don’t have that with our backup options.
Aberdeen does not look to pass and when he does he waits too long putting teammates in compromised positions.
he also seems to avoid passing at all to Chandler and Noah— but given their hesitation to shoot lately, it’s hard to blame him for it.

 

[Adam51]

Night and day difference when he plays. Continue to shoot him up with whatever they give these geriatric presidents before they make public appearances.

 

[bbnkat02]

I figured he was done for several more games + after he left so early. He showed he has grit by coming back in and playing the way he did.

I figured that might be it period. I saw a rocky start to the season about to get 2013 worse.

Seeing him come back out was like a bad fog lifted. I just hope he can keep going. Teams WILL go for that shoulder I saw SJs do it several times in the 2nd half alone.

 

[bbnkat02]

Night and day difference when he plays. Continue to shoot him up with whatever they give these geriatric presidents before they make public appearances.

Sadly its a structural issue. I have no doubt he can play through pain- but if that shoulder breaks on him- it doesn't matter how good he is at playing through pain if it just won't move right.

 

[Monday Nitro]

Acaden lewis says hello

Acaden Lewis
decommitted from Kentucky in April 2025 primarily because the Wildcats added veteran point guard Jaland Lowe via the transfer portal, significantly reducing Lewis's projected playing time and role as a freshman, and he sought a situation where he could be a primary ball-handler and have more immediate impact. Lewis stated it was a difficult, but necessary, decision for his future, not reflecting negativity towards Coach Mark Pope or UK, but he wanted guaranteed minutes that weren't likely at Kentucky with Lowe and other incoming guards, according to news reports from ESPN and Courier Journal.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

I figured that might be it period. I saw a rocky start to the season about to get 2013 worse.

Seeing him come back out was like a bad fog lifted. I just hope he can keep going. Teams WILL go for that shoulder I saw SJs do it several times in the 2nd half alone.

Yeah, the SEC will be brutal. Hope he can keep it protected as much as possible.

 

[Adam51]

Sadly its a structural issue. I have no doubt he can play through pain- but if that shoulder breaks on him- it doesn't matter how good he is at playing through pain if it just won't move right.

My head knows that. Heart however....

 

[DelkBowl]

Luckily Pope only recruited one of them.

 

[BarefootBeach]

Acaden Lewis
decommitted from Kentucky in April 2025 primarily because the Wildcats added veteran point guard Jaland Lowe via the transfer portal, significantly reducing Lewis's projected playing time and role as a freshman, and he sought a situation where he could be a primary ball-handler and have more immediate impact. Lewis stated it was a difficult, but necessary, decision for his future, not reflecting negativity towards Coach Mark Pope or UK, but he wanted guaranteed minutes that weren't likely at Kentucky with Lowe and other incoming guards, according to news reports from ESPN and Courier Journal.

Exactly, thank you for posting. He was in the mix for a long time. Maybe pope thought Aberdeen and jj were enough, who knows. We don't.

 

[bbnkat02]

Acaden Lewis
decommitted from Kentucky in April 2025 primarily because the Wildcats added veteran point guard Jaland Lowe via the transfer portal, significantly reducing Lewis's projected playing time and role as a freshman, and he sought a situation where he could be a primary ball-handler and have more immediate impact. Lewis stated it was a difficult, but necessary, decision for his future, not reflecting negativity towards Coach Mark Pope or UK, but he wanted guaranteed minutes that weren't likely at Kentucky with Lowe and other incoming guards, according to news reports from ESPN and Courier Journal.

To play over Devin Askew who's finally doing something. Askew is averaging 9 points a game. Not awful. Only took 6 years.

 

[KyLegacyBBN]

I figured he was done for several more games + after he left so early. He showed he has grit by coming back in and playing the way he did.

I agree. It looked bad from his reaction. Probably just tweaked it is nervous. Either way I hope he stays healthy.

 

[UKCowboys]

Everyone asking why he didnt get a backup PG...thats where having 5-6 guys in your program helps when you take over. He had a backup last year in Perry but he was a scrub. Once he signed Lowe, who is going to come here just to be a backup?

 

[Cowtown Cat]

It’s truly mind boggling that Pope didn’t get a back up. Either way, if Lowe can stay healthy then this team has a chance now that JQ is playing.

Well, Lewis left and Perry left. Kinda screwed us.

 

[true-blue1]

Well, Lewis left and Perry left. Kinda screwed us.

I wish Lewis had stayed. The kid is a player.

 

[Smeegs]

To play over Devin Askew who's finally doing something.

Feels almost surreal …like going back in time …when I see names like Askew still playing CBB. Nobody should be in college that long unless they leave with the title “Dr.” by their name.

 

[storm1507]

Lowe played very well today, shoulder and all. I feel stupid to have called him soft a week or so ago. Please forgive me Lowe!

You should never insult a man unless it's face to face. And then, you would do well to think about it pretty hard before you do.

 

[Kyhoward1]

With his stature Jaland has probably played the point since he started. A point guard can be compared to a quarterback. He has the ball in his hands more than any other player.
He has to:
1. understand defenses and get the offense started. More difficult with the 30 second shot clock
2. Know his teammates strengths and weaknesses
3. Have a relationship with the head coach and be able to carry out his instructions on the fly.
4. Be an astute passer and ball handler to be successful
5. Great asset if he is an offensive threat with shooting and beating his man off the dribble
6. A good/great point guard has the eyes of all 5 defensive players which helps free up his teammates.

Lowe, in the brief time I have studied him on the court, can beat his man with quickness to either score or dish off. He does not seem to panic once he gets into the paint but is always searching for the open man (like a QB in football). He keeps his dribble until he decides to shoot or pass and seems to dribble with a purpose. If nothing is available, he backs out and restarts the offense

JJ is a great talent but is a shoot first guard as a freshman. I am sure in high school his main responsibility was to score and not setup others so he is learning via the school of hard knocks. Chandler and Aberdeen can assist with ball handling and beating a press but are not point guards and they can best utilize their talents at the off guard position where they beat their man in a dribble or two and are at the rim.

Lowe is no Tyler Ulis or DeAaron Fox but is above average and can lead this team deep in the tournament IMO. Pray for his health!

 

[bbnkat02]

Well, Lewis left and Perry left. Kinda screwed us.

I like Perry but he couldn’t get min it was over Noah and we see how that’s going with Noah.

 

[megablue]

With Lowe and JQ in the line-up, we'll win more games and making the tournament shouldn't be an issue now. GO CATS !!

 

[megablue]

I like Perry but he couldn’t get min it was over Noah and we see how that’s going with Noah.

Noah and Perry played different positions, but I understand your point.

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

Lowe is deceptively quick, slippery, gets down low, and is the only player we have who can get to just about whatever spot he wants to, as Pope has been saying. And his passing is high level. JJ is the next closest thing but he has a long way to go between the ears before he can give solid minutes. DA dribbles too high and just doesn't have the quick step to get by his man - Not his fault.

Mr. Lowe has my utmost respect with the way he is handling his injury situation. I though for sure he was three dislocations and done.

 

[Smeegs]

JJ is the next closest thing but he has a long way to go between the ears before he can give solid minutes. DA dribbles too high and just doesn't have the quick step to get by his man - Not his fault.

JJ “could” be the closest thing, if he only had any feel for the distributor role. But thus far he doesn’t. It often looks like he’s not even trying to look for open teammates. He’s only thinking about his shot from the moment he touches the ball.

Oddly enough, I think Chandler may be our best backup PG option. At least I know he’ll pass the ball to the open man (unlike JJ) and won’t try to do more than his skill set allows (unlike DA).

But really we have nobody suited to take the backup point minutes. It’s the big glaring gap in our roster construction.

 

[KyKevin]

Night and day difference when he plays. Continue to shoot him up with whatever they give these geriatric presidents before they make public appearances.

Don't do that, you can't shoot with your eyes shut

 

[megablue]

Exactly, thank you for posting. He was in the mix for a long time. Maybe pope thought Aberdeen and jj were enough, who knows. We don't.

Going forward, Pope should only consider PG potential for players who are adept at handling the ball under tough, man pressure. DA, JJ and CC cannot do it. They are NOT legit point guards. They are shooting guards like Monk, Quickley, Graddy, Frederick, Robinson, Reeves, etc ...