Lamont Butler Says his Shoulder is Good for the Long Term

Lamont Butler (Vicky Graff Photo)

Lamont Butler insists he has moved past his shoulder injury.

“I think we’ve got it good now,” Butler said Monday. “I think if I had played other games, it could have been a setback, but I think now, it’s healthy enough to be good for the long term.”

Butler returned to the lineup Saturday after missing three previous games, including Kentucky’s 78-73 win over Tennessee two weeks ago in Knoxville. He scored eight points and dished out three assists in an 80-57 win over South Carolina on Saturday.

Butler is “excited” about playing the fifth-ranked Volunteers on tonight. Following back-to-back losses to Kentucky and No. 1 Auburn last month, Tennessee (20-4, 7-4) carries a three-game winning streak into the border battle.

“I know it’s a rivalry between Kentucky and Tennessee,” Butler said. “The last game, we got them at their place so (now) we’ve got to protect our home court. Our job is to protect home court.”

The San Diego State transfer admitted it was difficult to sit out three of the team’s past four games.

“It was tough,” Butler said. “I wanted to be out there with the guys, competing with them, especially on the road because we know how tough it is on the road. I was excited to see how they battled and how hard they played.”

During his time off the court, Butler observed the team’s defensive lapses in losses to Arkansas and Ole Miss.

“I think, the games that we lost, we needed to step up defensively,” Butler said. “I think we didn’t have the edge we usually play with. We just have to bring a better effort. I think it’s my job to come in and bring the effort and the energy on that end. I think we weren’t giving multiple efforts on plays. We would guard for 15 or 20 seconds well and then we would have a breakdown in the last 10 seconds.”

Tennessee Associate Coach Justin Gainey said Butler’s presence will be a difference-maker in the rematch.

“Lamont’s really good,” Tennessee associate coach Justin Gainey said. “He’s kind of the head of the snake, you know, he’s the head of the snake for them. He sets the tempo, he says the pace. He can score, he can facilitate. He’s dynamic in transition and he’s also a really good defender. I think he changes them drastically.”