UK basketball was down another guard for exhibition loss to Georgetown
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Guard Denzel Aberdeen didn’t play for UK basketball in exhibition loss to Georgetown.
- Aberdeen missed the Wildcats’ final exhibition contest due to a leg injury.
- Aberdeen previously played three seasons at Florida and won the 2025 national title.
Kentucky basketball was without another guard for its final exhibition game of the season.
Denzel Aberdeen, a senior guard who transferred to UK this offseason after playing three seasons at Florida, didn’t play Thursday night for the Wildcats in their home exhibition loss to Georgetown University at Rupp Arena.
Postgame, UK head coach Mark Pope said Aberdeen was dealing with a leg injury.
“(He’s) just got a sore leg that he’s trying to get 100% healthy,” Pope said when asked by the Herald-Leader about Aberdeen’s injury. “We’re taking precautions with him.”
Along with Aberdeen, the Wildcats were without projected starting point guard Jaland Lowe (right shoulder) and impact transfer forward Jayden Quaintance (recovery from a torn ACL) for Thursday’s game.
Aberdeen — who averaged 7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in primarily a bench role for the national champion Gators last season — left UK’s practice early Wednesday. That practice, which took place at Rupp Arena, was open to media members.
After leaving the floor at Rupp during practice, Aberdeen returned to the court a few minutes later. He didn’t participate in any basketball activities after making his return. Aberdeen went through some extra stretches before he left the playing area.
Prior to Thursday’s game, Aberdeen participated in some of Kentucky’s early pregame warmups. He came out more than two hours before tip-off and did individual shooting work, before participating in some elements of UK’s team warmup. Aberdeen mainly passed balls to teammates.
When Kentucky took the court for its final pregame warmup at Rupp, Aberdeen didn’t participate in on-court work.
“I don’t know where J-Lo is going to be, but I’d like to have those guys back in action within the next week or two, I’m hoping,” Pope said of Aberdeen and Lowe.
Lowe, a transfer addition from Pittsburgh, injured his right shoulder two weeks ago during Kentucky’s Blue-White Game. He is trending toward a return for Kentucky’s regular season opener on Tuesday against Nicholls.
With both Aberdeen and Lowe out injured, Kentucky started sophomore returner Collin Chandler at point guard against Georgetown. Chandler led UK in minutes played with 28. He scored 11 points on 2-for-9 shooting from the field and tied for the team lead in rebounds with seven. Chandler also led UK in turnovers with five.
Quaintance, another top pickup for Kentucky from the transfer portal, remains sidelined as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in February when he played for Arizona State.
Kentucky began its exhibition schedule last week with a decisive home win over Purdue, the top-ranked team in the preseason AP Poll. The Cats claimed a 13-point win over the Boilermakers despite being without Lowe, Quaintance and reserve big man Reece Potter, who missed the Purdue exhibition due to illness.
Aberdeen started in Lowe’s place at point guard for Kentucky against Purdue. He had nine points, three assists and one turnover in a team-high 29 minutes in the game.
Aberdeen is projected to start for Kentucky this season, regardless of Lowe’s status.
After hosting Nicholls on Tuesday night to begin the regular season, UK welcomes Valparaiso to Rupp Arena on Nov. 7 before a marquee matchup at Louisville on Nov. 11.
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 6:31 PM.
