NASHVILLE - Jaland Lowe is juggling the present and the future as Kentucky basketball gears up for the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
Currently, Lowe is focused on Kentucky's 2025-26 season, with the Wildcats set to face Florida on Friday. But his mind is also drifting toward next season. Despite his season-ending shoulder surgery in January, Lowe, a junior and Kentucky's former starting point guard, is committed to returning.
"That's the plan," Lowe shared after Kentucky's 78-72 victory over Missouri. "I'm not thinking about leaving the team or the coaching staff.
I'm right here with these guys. The plan has always been to come back, and I'd be happy with that."
Hailing from Texas, Lowe is doing everything he can to support his team from the sidelines, hoping for a deep NCAA Tournament run. Yet, the thought of the 2026-27 campaign is never far from his mind.
"I'm always thinking about playing next season and getting as healthy as possible," he said.
Kentucky and Florida are set to tip off at 1 p.m. ET Friday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, airing nationally on ESPN. For those without cable, streaming options like Fubo, which offers a free trial, are available.
In terms of betting, Kentucky is an 11½-point underdog on DraftKings, with the over/under set at 159½ points. The moneyline stands at Kentucky +575, Florida -850.
For radio listeners, Tom Leach and Jack Givens will provide the call on the UK radio network, available on 840 AM in Louisville and both 630 AM and 98.1 FM in Lexington. Online streaming is also accessible via UKAthletics.com.
As the tournament progresses, here's a quick look at the schedule:
Wednesday, March 11 - First Round:
- Kentucky defeated LSU 87-82.
- Auburn triumphed over Mississippi State 79-61.
- Ole Miss took down Texas 76-66.
- Oklahoma bested South Carolina 86-74.
Thursday, March 12 - Second Round:
- Kentucky edged out Missouri 78-72.
- Tennessee vs. Auburn at 3 p.m.
- Georgia vs. Ole Miss at 7 p.m.
- Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma at 9:30 p.m.
Friday, March 13 - Quarterfinals:
- Florida vs.
Kentucky at 1 p.m.
- Vanderbilt vs.
Game 6 winner at 3:30 p.m.
- Alabama vs.
Game 7 winner at 7 p.m.
- Arkansas vs.
Game 8 winner at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 14 - Semifinals:
- Game 9 winner vs.
Game 10 winner at 1 p.m.
- Game 11 winner vs.
Game 12 winner at 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 15 - Final:
- Championship game at 1 p.m.
For those looking to catch all the action, SEC Tournament games will air on ESPN and SEC Network. Streaming options are available on platforms like Fubo, and authenticated subscribers can access the games via WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app, or ESPN+.