Kentucky Wildcats coach Mark Pope has shared updates on a couple of his standout transfer students. Pope and the 2025-26 Wildcats are set to open their campaign on Tuesday. Collegiate hoops reporter Jon Rothstein has claimed that Pope is still not sure about Jaland Lowe and Denzel Aberdeen’s availability for the upcoming game.
In the report through a post on X/Twitter on Monday, Nov. 3, Rothstein detailed that, according to Pope, both Lowe and Aberdeen are questionable for the Wildcats’ first game of the new season. This stems from the fact that Lowe and Aberdeen, along with fellow transferee Jayden Quaintance, did not suit up for the team’s exhibition matchup last week against coach Ed Cooley’s Georgetown Hoyas.
Mark Pope tells me that he’s still unsure if Kentucky’s Jaland Lowe (shoulder) and Denzel Aberdeen (leg) will be available for Tuesday’s opener against Nicholls.
Both players — as well as Jayden Quaintance (knee) — DNP in last week’s exhibition game against Georgetown.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 3, 2025
Lowe is dealing with a shoulder injury that he sustained during an exhibition game on Oct. 17, while Aberdeen recently picked up what is being listed as a knee injury. Both players committed to transfer to the Wildcats this past offseason, with Lowe coming in for his junior year from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Aberdeen won his first national championship last season with the Florida Gators.
Whether or not both players play in the Wildcats’ first game of their schedule, it is presumed that their setbacks are not too major and that they return to the mix sooner than later. Coach Pope is heading into his second season at the helm of the Kentucky coaching staff, as he looks to improve from an overall record of 24-12 (10-8) in the 2024-25 campaign.
Read More: Duke Basketball Recruiting: Jon Scheyer In Heated Race With Kentucky, Mark Pope To Secure Commitment From 5-Star Recruit
Mark Pope And The Kentucky Wildcats Will Open Their 2025-26 Campaign Against The Nicholls Colonels
Coach Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats’ first opponent of the 2025-26 season is coach Tevon Saddler’s Nicholls Colonels. The game will be played on Tuesday, Nov. 4, on their home court, the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Colonels finished their campaign last year with an overall record of 20-13 (13-7 Southland). Pope and the Wildcats hope to start their season strong by picking up a non-conference win against Nicholls.
Also Read: “Getting Rather Concerning” – Analyst Flags Mark Pope’s Struggles in Landing Non-Kentucky Five-Stars
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