Vicky Graff Photo
Jaland Lowe has been giving Kentucky a much-needed lift in the backcourt since returning from a shoulder injury.
After missing six of the first eight games, Lowe has made an impact coming off the bench and scored a season-high 21 points in an 89-74 loss at Alabama last Saturday. In the last three games he has played, Lowe has averaged 15.7 points per game and 12 points per game in the second half of those contests.
Despite his ability to score, Lowe does not mind not scoring and still looks to his teammates first as an initial option.
“As much as I love to pass, if my team needs me to go out there and score, I have no problem doing that,” he said Tuesday. “It is not too hard for me to do that. I think it’s just that I have a great group of guys around me that make it a little bit easier to do that. At the same time, I know as my job, I still have to get guys open shots and things of that nature. But if my team needs me to score, I’ve got no problem doing that.”
The Wildcats (9-5, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) will look to rebound from the loss to the Crimson Tide against Missouri on Wednesday night at Rupp Arena.
In the loss to Alabama, the Wildcats fell behind early and didn’t recover despite scoring the first five points of the game. Lowe said breakdowns on communication led to the team’s downfall in Tuscaloosa.
“We didn’t communicate loud enough or well enough for each other to all be on the same page, but that’s just got to be a discipline thing,” Lowe said. “Going forward, I’m pretty sure everybody knows we’re in conference play. There should be no surprises what we’re doing now that we’ve all got to be on the same page no matter what and it’s life or death.
“It’s the second half of the season. We’re not doing great right now, as we all know, we still have plenty of games left, and we know our capability. We’re going to go out there and just play urgent.”
The Tigers (11-3, 1-0) edged defending national champion Florida 76-74 last Saturday in the conference opener for both teams. Missouri is seeking its first 2-0 start since joining the league in 2013.
“We’ve just got to bring the energy from the start of the game,” Kentucky forward Mo Dioubate said. “They’re a good shooting team. We plan to be there on the catch — limit the three-point shots and play physical. (We need to) get on the glass and try to win the rebound game and limit their shooting. That’s been a thing going into this game.”
* * *
GAMETRACKER: Missouri at Kentucky, 7 p.m., Wednesday. TV/Radio: ESPN2, UK Radio Network.
6 Responses
Pope is way in over his head. He has no idea how to handle the "assignment". Which is actually winning games not winning #9. He was goated into the job because no one else wanted it. Players aren't wanting to come to UK. Coaches don't want to come. Why? I say the Big Boohoo Nation. The coaching profession is a fraternity. They all saw how Cal was treated here. The best Coaches want no part of it. The best players today don't want to hear how lucky they should feel that Ky wants them. Pope shouldn't be here. Since he is, He is 100% at fault for this team in every way. When Cal was here if a player farted it was all Cals fault according to BBN. I hold Pope to the same standard. Think this year is bad? Wait till next year.
First half observations. Missouri sucks! Kentucky stinks! Pope doesn't have a clue! Other teams pass the ball, we dribble it to death. Lowe and Aberdeen look for their shot first and only pass it when they can't force up a shot. Lowe is a liability on defense…teams with bigger guards post him up and score. We sag too much on defense. They kick it out to the arc and we go running at the guy…that is not how you guard your man. A head fake or side step and the man is open. Most of the time they have enough time to put up the shot without those moves. It took a miracle last second shot to break the 30 point barrier. This is NOT Kentucky basketball! Williams was just a flash in the pan against an inferior team. He has done nothing since. Pope has scraped Pope ball in favor of hero ball. Stand still until you get a pass and then dribble it until you get cut off and CAN NOT force up a shot, then try to pass it in the lane where 4 defenders have gathered and turn it over. Noah and Jelavic did not get in the game. Chandler got in the game for a few minutes, but to no avail. Lowe, Aberdeen, Oweh, Dioubate, and Quaintance are going to play hero ball, hence a 32 point half against a bad team.
You know, with all of the home cooking we got and hit a couple of 3s, I thought we just might slop out a win, but NOOOO…the real Kentucky came through in grand fashion.
Pussy cats
If the cats are bickering on the court is it a stretch to think jealously of n.i.l. deals could also be at play? At this point I say no. To much money at to young of an age.
Lowe dribbles way too much looking for his own shot first, only passes when there is no way he can force up a shot, and is a liability on defense…just like Travis Perry was. What did Pope ever see in this guy?
Comments are closed.