Jaland Lowe (Vicky Graff Photo)
While he will not play tonight against Tennessee Tech, it does seem that point guard Jaland Lowe is planning to get back in the Kentucky lineup soon.
That was far from certain when the Pittsburg transfer injured his shoulder for the third time in less than six months earlier this season. It seemed a season-ending surgery was a definite possibility before UK coach Mark Pope offered this encouraging update on his first radio call-in show of the season Monday.
“Jaland Lowe was on the court today in non-contact skill work,” Pope said Monday. “He’s making progress, which is really exciting. It’ll continue to be a day-to-day scenario.
“It was good to see him, not just in the skill work, but also out there coaching — which is going to be a really important part of what he does when he’s playing on the floor and in practice. We’re trying to give him more and more responsibility. He’s doing well.”
Last week Pope made it sound like surgery on his right shoulder was not going to be the first choice for Lowe or his family. Pope said it was a matter of Lowe being able to feel “some stability and strength” in the shoulder a week ago but said then he had good mobility.
Lowe hurt his shoulder for the first time during summer workouts in June. He dislocated his shoulder again in the Blue-White Game on Oct. 17 that forced him to miss two exhibition games and UK’s official season opener. He did play against Valparaiso and Louisville but hurt the same shoulder again in practice before UK played Michigan State. He also missed last week’s game with Eastern Illinois.
Kentucky certainly would love to have Lowe back for Tuesday’s national showdown with North Carolina in Rupp Arena but Pope offered no timeline for his return.
Pope also made it sound like forward Mo Dioubate would not be playing tonight either. He injured his ankle in the Michigan State loss and did not play against Eastern Illinois.
“Mo was coaching again today, and he shot free throws. He coached and shot free throws. We tested him last night. He’s still got a ways to go, but he was at practice, participating as much as he could,” Pope said Monday.
12 Responses
His shoulder is looser than an 8 year old's incisor.
I am not sure that Lowe has the body to endure a full SEC season.
Saw a lot of good BB yesterday and some of those games really showed just how far we might be behind some other elites out there. We will know more in the next couple wks, but UT, ISU, Hoosiers, Jayhawks, St. John's have bigs that can score and defend at the rim, and we not there yet. I also saw a lot of lockdown 3pt D that we haven't had since Pope's arrival. Not sure why we have to make that look so difficult.
Our second half explosion looked great, but it was against Tech. In the first 15 minutes, we struggled with Tech the same way we did with Louisville and MSU and playing hero ball seems to be the common denominator. We kept looking to score instead of passing to the open man who has a better chance of making a shot. That changed with Noah's 2 threes in the first half and continued in the second half, but this game in no way had the physicality of the Louisville and MSU games. Have we improved or are we just feasting on another cupcake team? North Carolina and Gonzaga will answer that question for sure. I'm thinking those games could go either way.
I'd run him through screens if I was opposing coach
Why did Matt Jones say ask Larry Vaught if you can keep his attention. I don't like that dude. He always screams into the mic. He sounds like a drunk. Anyways Lowe seems scared. When he's in the game he makes me nervous because he always looks like he's commiting a turnover. Let me say this I was wrong about Oweh And Garrison. I thought they would be much better this year but both of them have clearly gotten worse. Garrison is the worst player on the team. I would take Potter over Garrison. He comes into the game for Moreno who has been playing great and the ball comes off of the rim and hes right there which should be a easy rebound but he mistimes the jump and jumps way to soon and the defense timed it perfectly and got a put back dunk. Next possession a offensive rebound hits him in the hands does he grab it? No it goes out of bounds. It takes him to long to think and thats why he will never be a professional basketball players. His mind is way to slow. Chandler and Noah are going to be very good together this year and next year. They are the best shooters on the team amd they might not be the best defensively but they give maximum effort. Which is rare this year. I would play whoever gives the most effort and you just hope it's contagious among the players. Oweh looks lazy. What made him a great player last year was his hustle. Without his hustle he wouldn't have scored in double figures that much. This year he's trying to get to double figures without giving any effort. At least Aberdeen dives for the ball and plays defense.
I never heard that Mr. Know It All but as far as Lowe goes, I think if he gets healthy he will be fine
I heard it. He was talking about people that we should listen to when it comes to the inside scoop on UK football.
Not sure what he meant about the attention comment.
Me either Wildwest
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed how Aberdeen doesn't look toward the basket when he dribbles through a screen, he keeps looking at the sideline for a second or two and then looks for the screener rolling for the basket. That gives the defense to react and cover the rolling screener. That's why we aren't getting may points of the pick and roll. In fairness to Aberdeen sometimes our bigs roll to soon which allows the defense to stay in contact with Aberdeen and the screener. The screener must separate Aberdeen's man from Aberdeen first, then roll to the basket with a smaller man guarding him. There is a split second where the big will be open rolling to the basket and Aberdeen is missing it.
Remember Aberdeen has never been a full-time point guard
Aberdeen plays much better off the ball. Maybe it's time to give Johnson more minutes at the point, but then we have a log jam at the 2 and 3 spots…4 starters and only 2 spots.