Pitt's Jeff Capel says Jaland Lowe 'most likely' won't play against Miami amid concussion symptoms

Panthers coach Jeff Capel said Thursday that Pitt point guard Jaland Lowe “most likely” won’t play Saturday against Miami after experiencing concussion symptoms Tuesday night during the game at SMU.

Capel made his remarks during his radio show on 93.7 FM.

In the second half of Pitt’s 83-63 loss, Lowe inadvertently butted heads with SMU guard Boopie Miller. Immediately afterward, Lowe had trouble with his memory and trainer Daniel Anthony refused to allow him to return to the game, Capel said.

“He tried to come back in, had one possession where he ran up and down. There was a media timeout. In the timeout, our trainer noticed that he looked just kind of dazed, told the trainer he didn’t really remember any of the plays.”

Capel said he plans to be “super cautious” with his star guard. “Make sure he is 1,000%.”

“We don’t want to play around with that,” the coach said. “He felt really good (Thursday) with no headache. Sound, nothing. Lights, nothing. (Wednesday), he had some nausea, no headache.”

Capel said Lowe will see a specialist Friday morning.

“Sometimes, (Anthony) has to protect (players) from themselves,” Capel said. “Jaland made that comment to him (about his memory), and D.A. told him, ‘You’re out.’ ”

Capel said Lowe protested briefly, telling Anthony, “I didn’t mean that.” But Anthony did not relent, and Lowe sat out the final 12 minutes of the game.

“(Anthony’s) job is, No. 1, to get to know them and to get to know each individual and how they operate, how they communicate, how to communicate with them,” Capel said.

Lowe’s injury is the second suffered by a Pitt guard in four days after Damian Dunn fractured his elbow Saturday in the North Carolina game.

Losing Lowe and Dunn will create problems in Pitt’s backcourt but will give increased opportunity to freshman guards Brandin Cummings and Amsal Delalic.

Capel did not specify Thursday how long Lowe will be out, but he expects Dunn to miss the rest of the season.

Lowe leads the Panthers and is ninth in the ACC in scoring (16.5 points per game). He also is No. 1 on the team in steals (41) and assists (128). His 86.5% free-throw percentage (109 of 126) is second (fourth in the conference).