Lamont Butler injury update: Mark Pope gives promising news on Kentucky star

Lamont Butler left in the first postseason game for Kentucky in the SEC Tournament with another injury to his shoulder. However, Mark Pope again asserted that the Wildcats’ point guard will be available for the NCAA Tournament.

In an appearance on ‘The Field of 68’ on Selection Sunday, Pope spoke about Butler’s status going into the bracket as a No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region. He said that he could have possibly been able to give it a go in Nashville but that they’re now expecting him to be back for their run in March Madness.

“I mean, that’s the plan. The plan is for him to play, for sure,” Pope said. “I don’t think there’s a lot of doubt in that.”

“He took a little hit and, um, you know, he probably wasn’t going to be super functional to play but, if we had green-lighted him, he would have run out there for sure,” said Pope. “You just kind of get in space where it’s tough decisions. You know, I’m not a load management guy but we also have to have a little bit of sense about what we do.”

That’s what Big Blue Nation will want to hear considering how much that injuries have impacted this season for Kentucky. Being without Butler at times as well as now Kerr Kriisa and Jaxson Robinson, three pieces from their backcourt, while other have dealt with issues of their own has harmed how the Wildcats have been able to play because of who they’ve been limited to playing.

“Well, so, my, my SID told me today that we were ranked 355th in the country in minutes continuity this season. I would like to fix that number in the postseason,” Pope said.

Butler has dealt with a shoulder injury since mid-January that caused him to miss a total of six games over two stretches in conference play. He then had a separate shoulder injury in their second-round against Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament that caused him to miss their quarterfinal loss to Alabama. However, after some concerns coming out of Thursday night, UK got the update on Butler on Friday with optimism and now confirmation that he will be available for them in the NCAA Tournament.

Butler (11.5 points (49.2% FG, 36.2% 3PT), 4.3 assists, 1.6 steals) is one of their most experienced and important parts as the Wildcats’ point guard. That makes it all the more relieving in Lexington that the expectation is he’ll be good to go for tip-off on Friday against No. 13 Troy.

“He’s going to be great,” said Pope. “You know, he lives for March. You guys know, I don’t know if he’s, if he’s the most veteran March Madness-guy but he’s got to be pretty close.”

Pope confirms Butler will be back for the NCAA Tournament

In case there was still any doubt, Lamont Butler is back for the Kentucky Wildcats. Mark Pope shared that with the local media this afternoon on Selection Sunday after they got the ‘best possible news’ on his status on Friday.

“It matters. It just matters, you know?” said Pope. “He’s a veteran. He’s been through it at the highest level. He means so much to our team outside the tournament and, inside the tournament, maybe even means more to us. That’s partly why we were as cautious as we were in the SEC Tournament. It’s really important to us.”

“You know, the only way to gain experience is to experience it and he’s done it. He’s been in first-round games in the tournament. He’s been in Final Four games in the tournament,” Pope continued. “Like I said, he’s just such a steadying force for our team anyway on both – at the point of attack on the defensive end and initiating offense on the offensive end. And you add in his experience? He’s a difference-maker for us.”

Butler’s take on the matter? There is no doubt in his mind he’ll be on the floor and plans on doing what he does in the tournament.

“I’m feeling good, feeling a lot better than I was the last couple of days,” he said. “Just excited to go out there, have the opportunity to go to a Final Four and win that championship at Kentucky. I’m really excited and I can’t wait to go out there.”