ARM-PITT: Jaland Lowe Grateful to Finally Play Basketball with Good Players

Mar 11, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers guard Jaland Lowe (15) back on defense against Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Markus Burton (3) during the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

“Mark Pope is up for sainthood for saving this man from Jeff Capel.” My initial reaction to Jaland Lowe‘s commitment to Kentucky was reaffirmed by Pope on Tuesday. Jaland Lowe is finally in a place where he can play with other quality basketball players.

Pitt was once a proud program. Jaime Dixon regularly pumped out 20-win seasons and even earned No. 1 seed back in 2009, but it has been an absolute wasteland since he bolted in 2016. Kevin Stallings sent that program on an unprecedented nosedive and Jeff Capel has never been able to recover.

In seven seasons at Pitt, the former Dookie has two 20-win seasons and one NCAA Tournament appearance. His incompetence as a basketball coach made many Kentucky fans question if Jaland Lowe was good enough to play point guard for the Wildcats.

The more we learn about Lowe, the more it’s clear that he has the chops to play for Mark Pope. The Kentucky head coach can’t wait to see what Lowe is capable enough once he plays alongside real basketball players. No, my backhanded compliment isn’t that much more passive-aggressive than Pope’s.

“He’s a guy that’s been through it. He’s a veteran player that put up big numbers last year. He carried a huge responsibility last year,” Pope said.

“It’s very rare that you run into a guy that’s been as pronounced a talent as he has that is dying to play with more talent around him, that wants to be a guy that steps into a program where he wants to stir the drink. He wants to make guys better. He wants to elevate guys and wants to be around guys that have a ton of gravity on the court. He’s hungry to do that and he’s a special talent.”

Pope Expects Lowe Efficiency to Improve

That is the sentiment you should want from your point guard, a player who puts others before himself. However, I can’t help but laugh at the other message it sends. Lowe had to do everything for a Pitt team that had a losing record in an awful ACC, and the burden was too much.

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“He was in the 90th percentile in the country of taking tough shots, the volume of shots in the bottom 20% shot quality. He just had to carry such a massive load last year,” Pope said.

He was rewarded with a Third Team All-Conference nod, but the 29.1% usage rate was extreme. For reference, that’s three points higher than Otega Oweh, and five more than Mr. Point Center Amari Williams. Even though that high usage was to his own detriment, it did show Pope that he has a deep toolbox.

“I love his I love his ability as a playmaker… He’s going to be surprised, and he knows it, by having a chance to actually get an open catch-and-shoot once in a while, and have guys that demand space on the floor,” Pope said.

“I expect he’s going to take a massive jump also in his efficiency and his leadership. We’re really excited about him. I think he’s got a huge upside.”