Jaland Lowe is OUT vs. Nicholls, while Denzel Aberdeen is questionable

12 hours ago7 min read

The Kentucky Wildcats are set to tip off their 2025-26 season against Nicholls on Tuesday night at Rupp Arena, but Mark Pope’s squad is already navigating the kind of injury drama that could define a campaign before it even really gets started. Transfer point guard Jaland Lowe, who got banged up in the Wildcats' Blue-White game, has officially been ruled out for the opener with a right shoulder injury, per The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman—a tough blow for a team looking to establish its new identity.And the plot thickens with Denzel Aberdeen, who sat out the exhibition against Georgetown with a sore leg and is now a genuine game-time decision for the Colonels matchup. It’s the kind of situation that has Big Blue Nation nervously refreshing their timelines, because let’s be real, we’ve all seen how a shaky start can snowball.The silver lining, according to KSR’s Monday report, is that both guards were back on the practice floor with no major lingering concerns, which is the basketball equivalent of a deep sigh of relief. The expectation is that both should be a full go by next week when the Wildcats make the dreaded trip to Louisville to face their arch-rival, but man, you’d really like to have them back for Friday’s game against Valparaiso to shake off any rust.Facing a potential Final Four contender on the road without your backcourt fully operational is like walking into a boss fight without your best gear—it’s just asking for trouble. This is the part of the season where depth charts get tested and unsung heroes have to step up, and for Pope, managing these early bumps will be his first real test in building a resilient team culture.

#Kentucky Wildcats

#Jaland Lowe

#Denzel Aberdeen

#college basketball

#injury report

#Nicholls

#featured

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