There are two kinds of “identity” talk in college basketball.
The first is coach-speak. It is the stuff you say after a win because you’re happy and the locker room smells like sweat and guys are smiling.
The second kind is the version you say when your season has already tried to break you a little bit. Jaland Lowe’s quote belongs in the second category.
After a scary moment and a quick reminder of how fragile the whole thing is, Lowe didn’t give Kentucky fans a tidy soundbite. He gave them the closest thing to a mission statement this team has had.