Let’s just say Butler is excited to be on the hardwood again and thinks he’ll be able to remain there.
The Kentucky Wildcats shocked the college hoops world when they went to Tennessee and beat the top-five Volunteers 78-73 on January 28. A big reason it came as a shock was the Cats did it without Lamont Butler, who was out with a shoulder injury that ended up costing him three games.
The Cats then went on to lose back-to-back games against Arkansas at home and then on the road against top-20 Ole Miss. It was the latest in what’s been a rollercoaster of a season so far for Mark Pope, but he’s battled through those ups and downs well.
Thankfully, with Butler back in the lineup, the Wildcats were able to get back to their winning ways against South Carolina. Butler has been out numerous weeks, and getting him back has been huge.
During Monday’s meeting with local media, Butler said he was a little sore after Saturday’s win over the Gamecocks, but there were no setbacks.
“It was a little bit sore, but it’s still feeling good. It’s good enough for me to play,” Butler said of his shoulder.
Butler said that adrenaline helped him get through Saturday’s content, in which he started and logged
“My adrenaline was going. I just had a winning mindset at that point,” said Butler. “It’s just the risk of getting a really bad hit or something like that, but I’m not thinking about it. I’m just out there playing. Hopefully, it doesn’t happen, but I’m just out there trying to be the best I can.”
While it was a painful injury to battle back from, Butler thinks he’s progressed enough to avoid any setbacks.
“I think we got it. We got it good now. If I would have played in the other games, it could have been a setback, but I think now it’s healthy enough to where it will be good for the long term,” said Butler.
Butler has played in 18 games with the Cats and is averaging a career-best 12.9 points per game, so his offensive game has gotten to a new level in Lexington, especially as he’s been tasked to be the team’s main ball-handler.
After spending four seasons with San Diego State and earning an NCAA All-Tourney honor along with being the 2023-24 Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Butler has become a crucial part of this Kentucky team.
His presence has been increasingly important, and all of BBN will cross their fingers that he stays healthy as SEC play continues into March.
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