How Kentucky is handling "LaMarch" Butler's shoulder injury

Kentucky‘s win over Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament opener was a short-term celebration followed immediately by long-term worry. Otega Oweh deserves all of the credit in the world for yet another game-winner against his former school, but what about Lamont Butler‘s shoulder injury?

The fifth-year guard left the game with 9:35 to go in the first half and did not return, Mark Pope confirming he underwent imaging while ‘praying like crazy he can find his way back on the floor at some point this year.’

“It just doesn’t seem fair,” he said.

Now, nothing has been confirmed regarding his status both now and in the coming weeks. In fact, there’s some early buzz the extended outlook may actually be more positive than negative.

That doesn’t minimize the setback Butler has to face yet again, though, whether he returns in hours, days or weeks — if ever. He’s already been through enough and his teammates are hurting for him.

“I didn’t know he went down, but obviously I saw he wasn’t playing. It sucks,” Otega Oweh told KSR. “That’s our brother and we wish he would be out there with us because he brings so much to us. We’ve had so many hits to the roster all year, we’ve just got to find a way and keep on pushing and just hope he gets better.”

The Wildcats were cruising in the opener against the Sooners before collapsing down the stretch, turning a 10-point lead with 1:26 to go into a one-point deficit with six seconds left. Oweh saved the day with the game-winner, but the team was desperately missing its starting point guard in those crucial seconds with three turnovers in that stretch leading to the near-disaster.

“I’m sure he’d helped us a little bit down the stretch with some of those things,” Andrew Carr said. “We’re definitely hoping for him — no idea, kind of what’s going on with him but obviously he wasn’t able to be out there for the rest of the game with us. We’re praying for him, hoping that he can get back out there.”

More than anything, you’re potentially missing out on the reason you brought Butler in to begin with. Again, this is the guy who drilled a buzzer-beater in the Final Four to advance to the national championship. His teammates actually call him LaMarch Butler, his passion for winning put on full display now more than ever.

“I think his nickname going around is LaMarch — just because it’s his month, as everybody knows. So that’s pretty devastating, but I think he can still have an impact in that way,” Collin Chandler said. “Talking to us every every chance we get in timeouts and everything, he’s still going to be helpful. I mean, Lamont is a leader on this team, so we’ll still need him every bit of the way.”

The hope is he works his way back to the floor and his impact is felt beyond leadership from the bench. If not, though, there is something to be said about Kentucky’s injury experience up to this point with guys like Chandler, Travis Perry, Trent Noah and Ansley Almonor thrust into expanded roles at various points due to bumps and bruises throughout the year.

It’s not ideal, but these guys aren’t taking on their first rodeos. They’ve all stepped up in different moments.

“I wouldn’t say comforting, but we have had a lot of reps without him and we’ve just got to adjust and go out there and play our hearts out,” Oweh said. “I mean, I hope he comes back. I’m pretty — I really hope he comes back, but until then, it’s next man up.”

“As much as it stinks for those guys to go down, it has allowed our younger guys to be able to get a little bit more experience. We’ve got full confidence in them,” Carr added. “They come ready to go every single day, and have been continuing to get better and better throughout the season.

“We have no idea whether Lamont will be in or out, but we’re confident either way.”