Lamont Butler injury update: Mark Pope teases 'best possible news' on Kentucky guard

On Friday, Kentucky announced point guard Lamont Butler will be out for the Wildcats’ showdown against Alabama. However, Butler’s story with the Wildcats isn’t necessarily over yet. Ahead of Kentucky’s matchup against Alabama, UK head coach Mark Pope provided a positive update on Butler’s condition.

“We got the best possible news about Lamont, so he’s gonna be in good shape but we’re gonna sit him tonight just to make sure,” Pope said. “It’d probably be a stretch to get him tonight because he’s got some soreness but it was really good news this morning and so we look forward to having him as we move forward.

“Everybody wants so badly to have a chance to compete and we want him, for him and for us, to be able to compete. We’re going to go with [Travis Perry] tonight in the starting lineup.”

Kentucky and Alabama are scheduled to square off 25 minutes after the conclusion of Florida and Missouri‘s SEC Tournament quarterfinals game. The game will air live on the SEC Network.

Butler started the game for Kentucky in its 85-84 win over Oklahoma in SEC Tournament’s second round on Thursday but left the game in the first half after suffering an injury. Butler has battled a shoulder injury throughout this season, missing eight total games.

His injury is only the tip of the iceberg for the Wildcats. The team lost Jaxson Robinson for the season in February after he re-aggravated his wrist injury, which ultimately required surgery. Kentucky also lost point guard Kerr Kriisa in December when he suffered a foot fracture.

Thankfully, Butler won’t be sidelined for the season. Only minutes before Kentucky and Alabama tipped off, ESPN’s Molly McGrath provided even more details on Butler’s impending return.

“Kentucky guard Lamont Butler is out for this game with a left shoulder injury sustained in last night’s game, but head coach Mark Pope said imaging results came back this morning with very positive news,” McGrath said. “He said Butler suffered a different injury than the one he’s been nursing.

“They expect a quick turnaround for his recovery, saying if this was the championship game, he would be playing. And he wouldn’t rule Butler out if they advance this weekend. But they’re hopeful he can return, definitely, for the NCAA tournament.”

For now, Butler will have no choice but to cheer on his teammates from the sidelines. The winner between Kentucky and Alabama will advance to face off against 2-seed Florida on Saturday.