Despite fouling out, Lamont Butler looked healthy after missing last 3 games

After missing Kentucky’s last three games, starting point guard Lamont Butler made his much-anticipated return to the lineup Wednesday night against Oklahoma. And even though he fouled out after just 20 minutes of action, it became abundantly clear just how necessary he is to this team’s success.

Butler finished with seven points, six assists, and four rebounds in the Wildcats’ 83-82 thrilling win over the Sooners in Norman. He only attempted two field goals, making one, but despite coming into this game shooting just 69.2 percent from the free throw line on the season, he was a perfect 5-5 at the stripe. Butler was a team-high +10 in a setting where seven of his teammates were negatives. His point of attack defense was huge in making life difficult for OU star freshman Jeremiah Fears, who shot 7-18 for the game.

Admittedly, my hope for a Kentucky win plummeted once Butler fouled out with 4:16 left in the game and the ‘Cats down two. A masterful performance from Otega Oweh down the stretch sealed the win. But what Butler did in his limited minutes after not playing since Feb. 11 was equally as important in making it a close game. He’s vital to this team’s chances of making a deep run. Getting him back in the fold with a few more regular season games on the schedule is no small note, especially with No. 1 Auburn coming to Lexington this weekend.

And unlike his teammate Jaxson Robinson, who clearly isn’t fully healthy as he continues to recover from his wrist injury, Butler appears to be in a much better position health-wise than he was just last week. There was a moment in the second half when Butler’s body slammed to the floor, nearly landing directly on his injured left shoulder. But he bounced back up quicker than he fell (to the relief of an entire fanbase), showing no signs of pain. Butler constantly battled through screens without issue.

After the win, Butler told Jack “Goose” Givens on postgame radio “I feel good” and that he didn’t feel any sort of pain throughout the game. We’ll take his word for it. Butler was wearing a brace on his left shoulder, as he’s done multiple times in games this season, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell it was an issue once the ball was tipped.

Kentucky needs Butler to continue on this trajectory moving forward. He’s ranked as a Top 25 most impactful player in the country, per EvanMiya, for a reason. As long as the shoulder holds up, the ‘Cats can make a run. No more setbacks, please.