With just over a week left before we begin the 2025-26 college basketball season, the teams are in the final phase of their preparations. To put the final touches on the training camps, all teams are currently involved in playing exhibition games against one another. Oftentimes, these games can create too much hype or panic if a team loses. Something akin to this happened last night as Kentucky defeated Purdue 78-65. However, despite being elated with a win against one of the best teams in the country, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope pointed out a concerning reality about his team.

While the win was in an exhibition, whenever your team defeats the number one-ranked team in the country, it is bound to create a lot of hype and expectations among the fans. However, Mark Pope took it upon himself to calm down the hype train. He also revealed a concerning reality that could jeopardize Kentucky’s start to the season.

Speaking to the media after the game, Mark Pope said, “They (Purdue) didn’t shoot the ball particularly well tonight. And I’m hoping part of it was just that there was somewhat of a relentless pressure and pace to the game. So, I actually felt like we didn’t play as hard as we’re gonna have to play to win consistently. So I kind of was looking at the bench, being like I need fresh bodies. So, we’ll continue to work on our conditioning.”

Even though Mark Pope tried to downplay the win, the truth is, this was an impressive win. Playing the game at Rupp Arena, Kentucky, came into the game without two of its potential starters in Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance. Despite this, freshman Jasper Johnson led with 15 points to lead them to a win. Kentucky started the game strongly and by halftime, held a 38-30 lead. They started the second half with a stern defense that led to Purdue only making 2 shots in the first 14 minutes.

Kentucky also dominated on the boards with a 42-30 advantage. They also dominated the second-chance points (14-4), fast break points (15-5), and bench points (34-18). Despite all these advantages, Mark Pope maintained that his team needs to play better and harder if they need to win in a consistent manner. As things stand, they are ranked ninth in the AP preseason poll. They also need to cover for two starters for at least the early part of the season.

With all these challenges, facing the team, it’s no wonder that Mark Pope is remaining cautious and is managing the expectations from both fans and the players themselves.

When can Mark Pope expect to count on Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance?

As mentioned earlier, Kentucky played the game without two of its potential starters for the season. Although the team has managed to cope up with their absence in at least the preseason exhibition games, as we get closer to real-time action, their absence could be a cause of concern. So, the real question is, when can Mark Pope get his two starters back and get a fully fit roster?

In the case of Jaland Lowe, the expectation is that he will be out of live action for at least one more week. Jaland suffered a shoulder injury after getting tangled up with Otega Oweh. Thankfully, the injury did not seem serious, as all that was needed was the training staff to pop the shoulder back in place and some rest. Although he has already started shooting, he will still be out for a week. That makes his presence in the season opener in a cloud of mystery. But considering how quickly he is able to get to this stage in his recovery, he might just make the opening night.

The case of Jayden Quaintance is a little more long-term. He is still recovering from his ACL surgery in March. While it is very likely that he will play this season, there is no set timetable for his return. When Mark Pope was asked whether Jayden could skip the season and prepare for the 2026 NBA draft, Mark Pope said, “I’m not exactly sure how long of a wait it is, but I don’t think there is a chance we could keep him from playing this season.”

While it is unknown when Jayden will return, whenever that may be, if would certainly be a big boost to Kentucky’s National Championship. Can they hang on until then without the mock draft number 6 pick in the 2026 NBA draft or not? That is a different question.