After Zaide Lowery did not travel for Marquette men’s basketball’s game at Creighton on Dec. 20, head coach Shaka Smart affirmed the junior guard was not leaving the team.
Eight days later, it was a 180-degree flip.
The school announced Sunday night Lowery would depart the program effective immediately, prematurely ending his tenure as a Golden Eagle halfway through the blue & gold’s already dismal year.
“I would like to thank Zaide for his many contributions to our program over the last two and a half years,” Smart said in a release. “We wish him the best in all of his future pursuits on and off the court.”
Lowery’s departure comes after a turbulent start to the 2025-26 season. After starting the first nine games but struggling to consistently contribute, he moved to the bench in place of first-year Adrien Stevens against Wisconsin on Dec. 6. One week later, at Purdue, he played only 12 minutes.
Lowery saw zero playing time in Marquette’s Big East opener against Georgetown, then stayed in Milwaukee for the Creighton game for what the program said were “personal reasons.”
Now, the two sides have parted ways and Lowery will look for a new team.
This story was written by Jack Albright. He can be reached at jack.albright@marquette.edu or on Twitter/X @JackAlbrightMU.