Jaland Lowe's injury presents 'incredible opportunity' for other Kentucky guards

Mark Pope would obviously prefer to have his starting point guard healthy and ready to suit up against Braden Smith and top-ranked Purdue on Friday, but Jaland Lowe‘s shoulder injury (which shouldn’t keep him sidelined for too much longer) will offer at least one interesting wrinkle: figuring out who can step in and fill Lowe’s shoes — and how it would look — as the backup floor general.

“It gives everyone an opportunity,” Pope said Thursday about replacing Lowe at point guard, “And so it gives a chance to rethink the way we do things. It’s actually interesting, we’ve tailored some things to Jaland specifically. It just is how this goes, right?

“Sometimes when you get too specific in how you manage the game and get really, really creative, it leaves you vulnerable to change. When you stay really general, it’s easier to move through those changes. That’s the dynamic we’re going through right now. But it’s an unbelievable opportunity.”

Lowe was brought in from Pitt to run the show in Lexington. As a playmaking guard who can also hit a variety of shots, a chunk of the offense was expected to revolve around him. That will still be the case once he does make his return, but in the meantime, his teammates will have a chance to test those waters themselves and see what they can offer.

While there is no “true” backup point guard to take over for Lowe, Pope’s roster construction in the offseason allowed for some wiggle room at that position in the event something like this does happen. There are a few options, too. Denzel Aberdeen experimented at point guard during a short stretch at Florida last season, Collin Chandler has been filling in at point guard throughout summer practices, and Jasper Johnson has the handles and scoring punch to make an impact.

Lowe remains the preferred option, but it doesn’t hurt Pope to let others get some run in exhibitions and see what he has there. Don’t be shocked if all three of Aberdeen, Chandler, and Johnson rotate the point guard spot during the preseason games against Purdue and Georgetown.

“DA is proven, proven, proven,” Pope said. “Jasper is so excited to step in here and take his first shot at this thing. Collin Chandler has been through this with a year for us and has been playing elite-level basketball. All those guys are gonna have incredible opportunity with J-Lowe and without him.”

We’ll see how they handle that opportunity during Friday’s exhibition at Rupp Arena. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.

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