Mark Pope shares more on Lamont Butler's potential NCAA Tournament return

Alabama sent Kentucky home from the SEC Tournament tonight in dominant fashion, with a 99-70 victory. As depressing as the Cats’ performance was in the second half, there is at least one piece of good news: Mark Pope is hopeful Lamont Butler will rejoin the team next week for the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s a totally different unique injury [than his previous one] and the imaging was perfect so we’re hopeful that he’ll be back in action [for the NCAA Tournament].”

About an hour before tipoff, Mark Pope teased the good news during his pregame conversation with Tom Leach.

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

Kentucky had more issues than no Lamont Butler tonight, but for the Cats to make any kind of run in March, they’ll need him back on the floor. Travis Perry started in Butler’s place and played 30 minutes, finishing with 11 points, just one shy of his season high, also vs. Alabama (12 in Tuscaloosa on Feb. 22). Collin Chandler played 17 minutes, finishing with four points, two assists, two rebounds, and a steal.

“I thought Travis competed hard,” Pope said. “He’s probably our next best option at the point to just give us some options to any type of playcalling diversity right now. And so there just weren’t a ton of options there. I thought he competed really well.”

Kentucky will find out its NCAA Tournament path when the bracket is revealed Sunday at 6 p.m. during the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Selection Show on CBS. The Cats were trending as a No. 3 seed in projections earlier today. We’ll know for sure soon enough.