This is interesting…

[KentuckyFlyer]

…

Im not a fan of his game. Stay on the beach then transfer, we can do way better

 

[GoAndRunIsGoneAndDone]

Been a lot of smoke that Oweh and Aberdeen didn't like each other AT ALL early. Combination of Oweh missing all that time over the summer and then coming in as the defacto leader, pre-season SEC Player of the Year, highly paid in NIL, and hyped up. They are basically very similar versions of each other in size and skill set. I'm sure they were matched up against each other in practice daily and a rift grew from there. There were multiple games where they flat out refused to pass to each other early on. I definitely think there was something there that might not be now.

I don't think Kam was a chemistry issue ever. He doesn't give off that vibe and neither does his Dad. They both seem genuine. Lowe never felt like a cancer either (to team chemistry at least). JQ I couldn't say 100%, but he seems smiling and happy and supportive (not so much his dad). So I don't know if I'd pin it on someone not in the rotation.

Mo seemed like a very likely candidate as well. Because, well, he's Mo... tough, emotional, talks a lot of snot, etc. So maybe that was it. He accepted his bench role and admitted he isn't here to shoot threes, maybe?

Either way, when a team starts as badly as UK did. There HAD to have been a lot of finger pointing internally that created a wider rift and strained some relationships. There HAD to be. Just no one is really saying who and what the beef was that actually knows. Lots of rumors though.

Yeah, everything pointed to some kind of issue within the team but I still can't say where the fault lies, either. I'm just glad it seems to be behind us, as long as it doesn't re-surface next season.

 

[FLBBNFAN]

I’m assuming this was in reference to contract negotiations for next year. Or at least I hope it was.

I think he is definitely coming back as our pg. I dont think you can judge a guy who was injured the whole time. I give him credit for trying to play despite his shoulder constantly popping out of place. That shows toughness and dedication to your team.

Even gimpy he was one of the reasons we beat Indiana and St Johns. I know a lot of folks dont want him back but I think we have other needs to focus on during the portal season. I think Lowe could be all conference next year.

 

[howitis_rivals115807]

Lowe would be an amazing player at most schools, but not under pope. he needs guys who can shoot the 3 and play good D. Pope's defensive philosophy, if there really is one. gets lost on screens and collapses on every drive into double and triple teams of the driver leaving multiple people wide open at the three point line. there has to be a PG that can prevent drives and fight through screens while also being able to shoot the 3.

 

[theBlues]

I have mixed feelings about Lowe. There were a few games where he racked up a lot of assists, which made us really hard to guard. But more times than not, he was locked in on just scoring and that made us one dimensional. The rest of the team stood and watched.

If you can get him to play team ball and drive to score only when it's the best option, cool, that's fine, but it also has to be understood that there will be at least one other good pg on the roster, maybe 2. That's the most important position on the floor, we can't just roll the dice with 1 guy.

That was when it looked like nobody on the team could shoot or wanted to shoot. I think he'll be a willing passer who can also get into the lane and score. I like him.

 

[UKortho]

And then what...get hurt again?? No thanks.

Pope should move on, but I bet Lowe will be back at UK next year. Nobody will pay him what Pope will.

 

[UKortho]

More likely he is trying to get a medical RS and come back next year

He shut it down at the very last moment that would enable a medical redshirt.

 

[UKortho]

JL would be fine as an option off the bench next year maybe.

Anything more than that is a no for me, dawg.

Back up point guard would be great. I assume he wants starter money though.

 

[BlueVoodoux]

Pope going in to his 3rd year with another damaged PG would be INSANITY. Lowe’s shoulder surgery is no guarantee that it won’t fail him at some point in the season. Why in the world risk it. Move Lowe out and get an awesome pg from the portal. I can’t believe some want a repeat of the last 2 seasons.

 

[kyjeff1]

That was when it looked like nobody on the team could shoot or wanted to shoot. I think he'll be a willing passer who can also get into the lane and score. I like him.

Problem is, his nature is to dribble the hell out of the ball and play iso. That doesn't fit Pope's system.
Not only that, but he’s a terrible defender and rebounder. Pope needs to show he can coach an elite defensive team, but when you have Lowe on the court, that means you aren't serious about being a great defensive team.

 

[Goingfor9]

Some of you all are bipolar. We need another PG!! Lowe comin back? No thanks!

You get him back if you can this year all day every day.

Nah. We finally have chemistry. Don’t screw it up. In order for Lowe to play we would have to really change up what we are doing. No thanks he’s probably starting to determine his value for next year. Or if uk wants him.

 

[yoshukai]

Lowe would be an amazing player at most schools, but not under pope. he needs guys who can shoot the 3 and play good D. Pope's defensive philosophy, if there really is one. gets lost on screens and collapses on every drive into double and triple teams of the driver leaving multiple people wide open at the three point line. there has to be a PG that can prevent drives and fight through screens while also being able to shoot the 3.

Lowe will be defensive liability anywhere he plays in D1 basketball.

 

[PrestonTheGreat]

Lowe will be defensive liability anywhere he plays in D1 basketball.

defensive liability who has shot 37% over 3 seasons
He sucks.
please go somewhere else

 

[yoshukai]

JQ is probably shut down, but......

with this week off, this would be the best chance to see him again.

It was reported last week that JQ wouldn’t have another medical evaluation for 2 more weeks. So …no way he can play against Florida. He’s not even cleared to practice until then .

 

[Monday Nitro]

Nah. We finally have chemistry. Don’t screw it up. In order for Lowe to play we would have to really change up what we are doing. No thanks he’s probably starting to determine his value for next year. Or if uk wants him.

I said him being availalble would be great, not starting. Only a non-UK fan wouldn't want another PG on the roster.........

 

[yoshukai]

defensive liability who has shot 37% over 3 seasons
He sucks.
please go somewhere else

We don’t beat Arkansas with him trying to match up with any of their guards .

 

[BlueSince92]

Surgery can fix Lowe.

Just not the surgery we gave him.

 

[Skyguyb27]

Pope’s offense needs a facilitator, not an Iverson wanna be made of glass! Hard pass for me, but whatever. Huge mistake if this guy comes back to UK next season

I’d be fine with him being a backup pg next season for whatever stud starts over him.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

So, Pope stated a couple weeks back that Lowe could return, but it would take a miracle from a medical perspective. He also said that Kam could return in time for the postseason. Also, said JQ is basically a day to day decision.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

Jasper wouldn’t know a good shot if he was standing at the free throw line. He’s been a complete disaster all year. Most selfish player I’ve ever seen at UK.

I’ll agree he’s selfish but he’s not close to the most ever at UK. He’s likely being selfish because he knows he’s only going to get a handful of minutes so he’s trying to get his shots in. Plus he’s only a freshman. Lowe was just as selfish and he’s a junior. He should know better.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Thanks, but...No thanks.

Yeah I don’t think he’s the answer right now. We have played much better without him TBH.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

UK didn't land the guys in both the HS recruiting cycle and the Portal cycle to run Pope's regular 5 out zoom offense. We missed on a stretch 4 with 37-40% 3PT shooting who also had a low post game and took a flier on Jelavich "possibly" being that late in the portal cycle. All the backup point guard options transferred (Krissa, Perry) or decomitted (Lewis) and the one we signed (Lowe) is not a 5 out zoom offense style point. Garrison and Moreno (while improving at ball handling) are not Amari Williams (or even Khalifa from Popes BYU squad) when it comes to passing and ballhandling outside the paint. Kam Williams was not Kobe Brea like the staff had hoped.

I say all that to say this. We never had a game with a 100% healthy Lowe, so what we did get to see was a shell. But even then, the team went away from zoom and 5 out early this year to fit the roster (and point guard) we had. The team looked lost, Pope even mentioned multiple times that guys decision making and running simple cuts, screens, and set offenses were difficult for some of the guys playing heavy minutes. Our offense was stagnant because some of them were lost and everyone stood around waiting for someone else to make a play. And when you don't have a DUDE, Oweh slowed by recovering from turf toe, and several guys completely lost, several black hole force a shot everytime they touch the ball players, and a floor full of bad shooters it leads to head scratching offense. The pieces didn't fit, and honestly still don't but they are finding a way. It doesn't appear, from game film anyways, that we are forcing the "J Lowe" offense that we ran at the beginning of the year. Instead we are running a little zoom, some weave, some 4 out, nascar cuts and seal offs that we didn't run at all in November and December. Jelavich is providing a little better service in Kam's absence. Moreno continues to improve. Garrison is starting to play like he cares. Oweh is back to bull in a china shop. Aberdeen isn't forcing as many bad shots and is trusting his teammates more. Chandler has confidence again and coming up huge when we need him. Noah is providing valuable minutes when often undersized and less athletic than his assignment but still giving 110% effort. And Jasper has started to shows signs he's figuring it out that he doesn't have to shoot it everytime he touches it. Even Mo has accepted his role of coming off the bench.

I think the shortened rotation let everyone get forced into a role, AND the players are buying into their roles. Pope can coach the X's and O's. The hang up will continue to be, can Pope recruit the guys he needs to run the team the way he wants, AND can he recruit the guys skilled enough to hang banners. My only two knocks on him are recruiting (land a 5 star) and coaching player effort (we should never get blown out from lack of effort and it happens far too often under Pope).

That’s pretty much the truth.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

OK, you're in line for one of the most moronic posts of the year. He has had some key moments and several games recently, including his defensive effort.. he's not selfish at all I think sometimes his focus is too narrow, but he is often looking for Moreno to pass off to as well as guys in the corner.

He does take some bad shots for sure. He seems to have calmed down in conference where he will just shoot Jo matter what. He can create and that is what this teams desperately needs and he can get hot from 3.

 

[Cats_2010]

I didn’t even take what lowe posted as basketball related. Likely taking a quick break from school and heading home for a bit hence back soon.