- Jaland Lowe was the starting point guard for UK basketball before he underwent season-ending surgery on his shoulder in January.
- Lowe said “the plan” is for him to be back with Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats next season.
NASHVILLE — Jaland Lowe’s mind is existing in two places right now.
The present: Kentucky basketball’s 2025-26 season, which continues Friday in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
But it’s also on the future.
As it stands, he anticipates being back with the Wildcats next season.
“That’s the plan,” he told The Courier Journal following UK’s 78-72 win over Missouri in Thursday’s second round at Bridgestone Arena. “I don’t think about leaving the team or leaving the coaching staff. I’m really here right now, present with these guys. But the plan has always been to come back. And if that happens, that happens.
“And I’d be happy with that.”
Lowe, a junior, was Kentucky’s starting point guard before he underwent season-ending surgery on his shoulder in January. A Texas native, Lowe said he’s doing everything he can to be helpful from the sideline as UK gears up for what it hopes is a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Yet he can’t help but think about the 2026-27 campaign.
“My mind’s always thinking about that,” he said. “Being out, I always think about just playing next season, just getting as healthy as I can to allow myself to have that chance.”
Kentucky vs Florida basketball start time in SEC Tournament
UK and Florida are slated to tip off at 1 p.m. ET Friday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
What channel is Kentucky basketball vs Florida on in SEC Tournament?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Livestream: Fubo (free trial)
The game between the Wildcats and Gators will air nationally on ESPN.
Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com or the ESPN app.
Those without cable can access ESPN via streaming services, with Fubo offering a free trial.
Stream Kentucky vs. Florida
Kentucky vs Florida basketball betting odds
Kentucky is an 11½-point underdog (-110) on DraftKings, which set the over/under at 159½ points (-110). The moneyline is Kentucky +575, Florida -850.
How to listen to Kentucky vs Florida on the radio
Tom Leach (play-by-play) and Jack Givens (analyst) will have the UK radio network call on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington.
You can also listen online via UKAthletics.com.
2026 SEC Tournament schedule: Game times, TV channels
All times Eastern
Wednesday, March 11
First round
Game 1: No. 9 Kentucky 87, No. 16 LSU 82 (Click here to read the story from the game.)
Game 2: No. 12 Auburn 79, No. 13 Mississippi State 61
Game 3: No. 15 Ole Miss 76, No. 10 Texas 66
Game 4: No. 11 Oklahoma 86, No. 14 South Carolina 74
Thursday, March 12
Second round
Game 5: No. 9 Kentucky 78, No. 8 Missouri 72 (Click here to read the story from the game.)
Game 6: No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 12 Auburn, 3 p.m., SEC Network
Game 7: No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 15 Ole Miss, 7 p.m., SEC Network
Game 8: No. 6 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 Oklahoma, 9:30 p.m., SEC Network
Friday, March 13
Quarterfinals
Game 9: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 9 Kentucky, 1 p.m., ESPN
Game 10: No. 4 Vanderbilt vs. Game 6 winner, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 11: No. 2 Alabama vs. Game 7 winner, 7 p.m., SEC Network
Game 12: No. 3 Arkansas vs. Game 8 winner, 9:30 p.m., SEC Network
Saturday, March 14
Semifinals
Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 1 p.m., ESPN
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Sunday, March 15
Final
Championship game: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 1 p.m., ESPN
How to watch Kentucky basketball in 2026 SEC Tournament
SEC Tournament games will air on ESPN and SEC Network.
You can stream ESPN, and SEC Network on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN, ESPN2 and SEC Network via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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