If Thursday night's 84-70 loss to Georgetown proved anything, it's that Kentucky's perceived backcourt depth is razor-thin. Playing without their top two point guards, Jaland Lowe (shoulder) and Denzel Aberdeen (precautionary scratch, leg), the Wildcats' offense was completely dysfunctional. That is not what you expect when you hear that Kentucky could have paid upwards of 22 million dollars for their roster.
Collin Chandler was forced into the primary point guard role and struggled, finishing with 11 points but shooting just 2-for-9 from the field with 5 turnovers. In addition to the stats, he just never looked comfortable with the ball or when the defense got up into him. The team's 15 turnovers and stagnant, one-on-one play highlighted just how critical Lowe and Aberdeen are to the offense. Because without them they looked totally lost
The cautious timeline
After the game, Mark Pope provided a much-anticipated, if not entirely clarifying, update on the status of his two missing guards.
“We'll see. I think they’re both close,” Pope said. “We will proceed with caution on both of them… day by day.”
That "day by day" designation is classic coach-speak for "we're not rushing this." While Pope expressed optimism, his cautious tone makes it clear that the team may have to learn to play without them for a bit longer as they approach the regular season opener. And that is okay, you would much rather have a fully healthy team come January than risk losing one for the season.
The loss, while ugly, underscored a crucial reality: the health of Jaland Lowe and Denzel Aberdeen isn't just important, it's essential for this team's offensive success.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion