Lamont Butler has told his father he’s ready to play but his father understands why coach Mark Pope has been cautious. (Vicky Graff Photo)
By LARRY VAUGHT
Kentucky guard Otega Oweh said Tuesday that injured starters Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson have “looked good” in practice.
“They’re trying their hardest to get back out there, but they look good. They’re working hard, doing a lot of rehab and stuff like that. I feel like it’s only a matter of time before they get back out there,” Oweh said.
That time apparently is coming tonight at Oklahoma as both are listed as “probable” on the SEC Availability Report.
Kentucky has gone 3-2 in its last five games going into tonight’s game at Oklahoma since Robinson first sat out with a wrist injury. Butler has been out with a shoulder injury and that has given coach Mark Pope no choice but to play freshmen Travis Perry, Trent Noah, and Collin Chandler more — they combined for 60 minutes in Saturday’s loss at Alabama.
Lamont Butler Sr. said his son is “telling me he is feeling good and has no pain” in the shoulder.
“He has gone through practice and wakes up with no point,” Butler Sr. said on WPBK-FM Radio Tuesday. “That is a positive. He does not need to play with a sore shoulder or there could be a freak accident and he could be out again like what happened against Tennessee. Coach (Mark) Pope is just trying to be cautious and have him ready for the long haul.”
The UK point guard re-injured his shoulder when he dove for a loose ball against Tennessee going for a steal.
“He said, ‘Dad, I should not have dove for the ball but that’s my instinct,’” Butler Sr. said. “He hates being on the bench. It bothers him not being out there with his brothers. I told him it looked like he was playing defense on the sideline. He misses being out there with those guys but has been the biggest encourager he can.”
Butler is averaging 12.5 points per game and shooting 51 percent from the field. He has 88 assists and 34 steals with only 38 turnovers.
“Lamont believes he can play now and could have helped win the last game (at Alabama). He does understand winning an SEC game is not as valuable as winning the SEC Tournament or national title,” Butler’s father said. “He may not ever be 100 percent (this season).
“But you guys will be happy when Lamont is back. He is itching to play. We have had some great conversations and I do think he will be back for Auburn (on Saturday). He’s ready. Or thinks he is.”
Teammates know they need Butler.
“Lamont is the best defender I’ve ever seen in my life, so obviously he helps a lot with our defensive energy,” Chandler said Tuesday.
Oweh also understands that Butler and Robinson have both played in the NCAA Tournament, something he did not do last year at Oklahoma.
“It’s going to affect me too because I haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament yet. Those guys, they’re vets and they’ve gone on runs — especially Lamont and what he’s done at San Diego State (to reach the Final Four),” Oweh said.
“He knows what it takes to win and how he has to lead for every single possession and every single play.”
2 Responses
Please oh please stay healthy.. We need you.
Thanks to both for a gutty performance, without them we lose the game last night. Robinson needs to sit until the Big Dance. Butler is back and we really needed help at his position.