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This offseason, the Kentucky Wildcats built one of the most expensive rosters in the country, as the NIL collective proved their backing of second-year head coach Mark Pope beyond a shadow of a doubt by bringing in forward/center Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State, projected top-10 pick in 2026), guard Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), forward Mo Dioubate (Alabama), and guard Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh).
Add this to the mix of players, some elite returners like Otega Oweh and prep talent like Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno, and Kentucky looks to have easily a top-five roster in the country, paired with a coach in Pope, who gets the most out of his offensive players with his five-out spacing.
Enter Jaland Lowe, a guard from Pittsburgh who averaged 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists last season, leading the team in the first and third categories. The problem with Lowe was his offensive inefficiency – he shot just 38% from the field last season, having trouble not only with his three-point shot (27%), but also his finishing at the rim (43% inside the arc).
This isn't necessarily an indictment of his game on all fronts, however. Lowe was asked to do entirely too much for the Panthers last season, serving as the lead initiator and leading scorer on a team that struggled mightily through the 2025-26 season, finishing just one game above .500 at 17-16. Pope aims to change his trajectory from a guard who forces a lot of shots into one who can play within the flow of the five-out offense, likely finding easier opportunities to score and distribute given the teammates he has around him.
Lowe's ultimate goal is to be a first-round NBA Draft selection, which can happen if a couple of things go his way. First of all, the efficiency obviously must take a leap, and second, he must cut down on turnovers (3.0 per game). Due to the fact that he will have significantly more help with off-ball stars like Aberdeen and Oweh, it makes sense that he will be able to fix this issue.
Jaland Lowe certainly has the talent to be an NBA player – he just needs to put the pieces together and become a more complete guard on the ball.
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Michigan makes the 'Final Seven' list for an elite five-star coveted 2026 recruit
Michigan head coach Dusty May has proven his chops in the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail. In his year and a half in Ann Arbor, May has completely rebuilt his squad via the portal twice. Last year, he recruited seven game-ready transfer portal players, and this year, he secured the nation's top-rated portal class. To include the top-rated player in the portal, forward Yaxel Lendeborg. Some naysayers think that May's portal methods are unsustainable and are making the fact that he is not an elite-level recruiter. He proved that wrong when he landed McDonald's All-American and five-star shooting guard Trey McKenney. Trey has already impressed the staff and his teammates, and I firmly believe he will be a contributor as a freshman. May has continued to push for five-star elite talent, and one of those targets just put Michigan firmly in his "Final Seven". Anthony Thompson is the type of player, like McKenney, that can come in as a first-year student and make an impact from day one. He is tall, lanky, runs the floor like a gazelle, and can defend the rim with the ferocity of a much taller player. He is genuinely a 3-and-D basketball prospect who also possesses the ability to slash through the lane and finish around the rim. Dusty would quiet those few naysayers left just a bit more if he were able to get Thompson to Ann Arbor.
Denny Hamlin suffers vicious crash in Brickyard 400 qualifying
The favorite to win Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will have quite a mountain to climb. Denny Hamlin, who was fastest in practice at IMS on Saturday and is searching for his first Brickyard 400 win, suffered a vicious impact during Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session. Hamlin was the last car to make a lap during the session, but the No. 11 Toyota broke loose on the exit of turn 2. After tapping the outside wall, he spun into the grass before making hard contact with the inside wall. Hamlin did not produce a qualifying time and will be forced to go to a backup car for Sunday's race. The 58-time Cup Series winner will start last (39th) on Sunday. Hamlin did climb out of the car after the accident. Meanwhile, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe, secured the pole position for Sunday's race. The top five in qualifying were swept by Toyota, with 23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace joining Briscoe on the front row. The Brickyard 400 will go green shortly after 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, with coverage on TNT, the IMS Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Cause of death revealed for Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan died on Thursday morning after a medical episode at his home in Florida, and reports have revealed the cause of death for the wrestling legend. According to audio from Pinellas County Fire and EMS that was obtained by TMZ, medical personnel were dispatched to Hogan’s home in Clearwater for a cardiac arrest at 9:51 a.m. Thursday. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was treated by first responders before being taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Hogan was 71. Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com was also told by sources that Hogan suffered a “massive cardiac arrest.” There had been rumors in recent months that Hogan underwent a significant heart procedure, though his representatives denied that. Longtime radio personality Bubba The Love Sponge Clem, who was once friends with Hogan, claimed on his radio show in June that Hulk was in the hospital dealing with some sort of life-threatening condition. A rep for Hogan said at the time that Hulk had been receiving medical treatment to address lingering neck and back issues but was doing well. Hogan was arguably the most famous professional wrestler of all time. His popularity in the 1980s led to the rapid growth of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which is now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He also paved the way for pro wrestlers to go mainstream. Hogan leaves behind a complicated legacy. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He was removed in 2015 over a scandal but reinstated again several years later. Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame a second time in 2020 as a member of the New World Order (NWO), which he joined in 1996 when he made a heel turn while wrestling in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). A six-time WWE Champion, Hogan remained a brand ambassador for the organization up until his death.
Dodgers Announce Max Muncy Update After 16 Straight Missed Games
Third baseman Max Muncy is in his eighth season with the Los Angeles Dodgers after debuting with the Oakland Athletics in 2015. Muncy failed to establish himself as a reliable major-league hitter in Oakland, but his career took off in Los Angeles. The 34-year-old left-handed slugger has made two All-Star teams with the Dodgers and appeared in 905 games, hitting 203 home runs and driving in 575 runs. He’s also been a postseason hero, batting .217 with 44 hits, 13 homers, 34 RBIs and 38 runs scored across 62 career playoff games, and he’s won two World Series titles (2020, 2024). On July 2 against the Chicago White Sox, Muncy sustained a left knee bone bruise after a collision at third base while making a tag. An MRI showed no structural damage, and although his initial recovery timeline was set at six weeks, the Dodgers announced he could begin a rehab assignment next week and return ahead of schedule. His rehab progress has expedited his return timetable, and the team is eagerly anticipating his comeback. During his absence, the Dodgers have dropped five of 16 games, and their division lead dropped to five games over the San Diego Padres. His veteran presence has been missed in the clubhouse as much as his bat has been at the plate. In 2025, Muncy is batting .250 with an .832 OPS, 13 home runs, 55 RBIs and 51 walks while hitting in the heart of the Dodgers' lineup.
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