Lamont Butler feeling 'really good' ahead of Illinois as Mark Pope makes bold prediction

Lamont Butler did not score a single point while missing all five shots with two turnovers in 25 minutes — but finished with a team-high plus/minus of plus-22. Whether he’s going for a career-high 33 points on a perfect 10-10 shooting or being held scoreless, the fifth-year guard is going to find a way to make an impact if he’s on the floor.

That if has been a tricky one, though, Mark Pope joking after Kentucky’s win over Troy that Butler’s arms are ‘hanging on by a thread’ and that they’re ‘actually taped together.’

“I’m telling you, it’s a miracle that he’s on the court,” he said.

Butler said afterward he was ‘just trying to figure out the shoulder, see what I can do without causing any pain,’ adding he had been working around the clock with Kentucky’s training staff to get him on the floor — and hopefully keep him there.

“Tonight felt really good,” he said. “I didn’t have any moments of pain.”

That was last night, though, adrenaline pumping at the conclusion of yet another NCAA Tournament win for ‘LaMarch’ — the 12th appearance of his career. Where do things stand with the dust now settled a day later?

All is good in Butler’s world.

“It’s feeling good right now. Didn’t have any setbacks, man. Just grateful,” he said Saturday. “Grateful to be out there, it’s a blessing. We’re here in the (Milwaukee) Bucks arena, so I’m excited.”

Coming straight from practice to the open locker room media session, he’s still wearing his full shoulder sleeve, just as he did in the game. That led to some uncharacteristic misses at the rim, restricting his movement while giving him added protection, something he’s been trying to get used to for several weeks now.

“It’s a little restricting, you know? It’s hard to really move it up, around and sideways,” he said. “I’m just out there fighting and trying my best to go out there and be myself.”

Again, Butler being himself even at less than full strength is better than a lot of players’ best. He’s a winner, tough as nails and willing to put the team on his back no matter the pain level.

That approach is why Pope believes ‘LaMarch’ is finally here, ready to show the world once again why he’s one of the most dangerous guards in the sport, especially this time of the year. He may not have played his best against Troy, but Illinois will be a different story.

“Bringing up Lamont’s name, like fighting to play right now, I have an emotional reaction. Like I feel it physically,” Pope said Saturday. “When we first brought Lamont in, we knew — I didn’t know him, but I had played against him every year and watched him and studied him. Because you study these guys so deep in a scout. And we’ve said this since the day we started recruiting him, he’s just a winner, a winner.

“And right now he is — there’s probably zero reason why he should be able to be on the court right now, and he’s just gutting it out, man. He’s doing it for his team. I don’t know if I’ve coached a player that is more determined and like more like of his soul is just — it will kill him to let down his guys. Like it’ll kill him. Like it’ll bring him to tears, like to ugly tears, even the thought of letting down his guys.”

With a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line, Sunday will bring out the best of Butler. That’s the potential reward for everything the veteran guard has been through this season.

“You have someone like that in your locker room and you get someone like that on the court, and it’s pretty special. And I think he’s actually — I actually think he’s going to be amazing tomorrow,” Pope continued. “It’s just how this game works. It’s how it rewards you, and it’s incredible that he’s on the floor right now. I’m really proud of him.”