Lamont Butler talks with media members at UK's NCAA Tournament watch party Sunday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Lamont Butler knows all about what it takes to reach the Final Four.
Butler was a key part of San Diego State’s march to the Final Four and the national runner-up finish two years ago. Butler is looking forward to another opportunity to make a deep run with the Wildcats beginning Thursday in Milwaukee.
“I’m just excited to go out there and have the opportunity to reach the Final Four and win that championship at Kentucky,” Butler said. “I’m excited, and I can’t wait to go out there.”
Butler has been hampered by a nagging shoulder injury late this season and didn’t play in the Wildcats’ Southeastern Conference quarterfinal loss to Alabama. Butler insists he’s feeling fine and is prepared for the grind of the prestigious tournament.
“I don’t want to go home (and) I don’t want to lose,” he said. “I’m in March, and it just brings the best out of everybody and I think I just played my best basketball in March. I’m not trying to lose and trying to win every game, I’m just trying to (make an) impact.”
Kentucky coach Mark Pope is relieved his veteran point guard has been cleared to compete in the tourney.
“He’s a veteran,” Pope said. “He’s been through it at the highest level. He means so much to our team outside the tournament, and inside the tournament maybe even means more to us. That’s partly why we were as cautious as we were in the SEC tournament.”
The closeness of this year’s squad at Kentucky, Butler said, resembles San Diego State’s squad that lost to UConn in the finals in 2023.
“One thing I’ll say that’s similar is the bond that we have with each other,” he said. “I feel like San Diego State that year, we had groups so close together. We played for a long time together, but we had a great, great bond. But in this short time here at Kentucky, we really are brothers now and I think that’s really going to take us far (in the tournament).”
Butler also wants his coach to get his first NCAA Tournament victory. Pope went 0-2 in the tourney during his tenure at BYU.
“We want to make sure that he starts his Kentucky career with a bang as a coach, so that’s definitely on our minds,” Butler said. “… I feel like we’ve been doubted a lot this season with everything we had going on this year. We continue to prove people wrong and I’m ready to prove them wrong again.”
When Kentucky, the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, opens the tournament against Troy on Friday, Butler advises his teammates to enjoy the moment.
“March Madness is something that we all dream of,” he said. “(I would advise my teammates) not to be in a panic, just enjoy the moment, play free, play fun, play for each other. That’s gonna be my main message to everybody.”
* * *
Gametracker: Kentucky vs. Troy, Friday, 7:10 p.m. TV/Radio: CBS, UK Radio Network.
5 Responses
Personally I’m glad we didn’t have to go through two more WWE wrestling matches. Sprains, cuts, tears, breaks – thanks SEC. Hope the Pope brings in a couple 6’8” 250 lb. nasties.
The $64 dollar questions are…how healthy are Butler and Carr? Will Garrison and Almonor find their games again? Can Oweh and Brady continue their performances ending the season? Can Williams find his triple double game again? Will the freshmen play like freshmen or sophomores?
That’s the 64,000$ question. At this point I don’t have a clue what to expect. Is Butler going to play in the first round and not in the second round if we win? Is there another injury looming for us? Does this mysterious shoulder injury impact how he plays in the tournament and is injuries going to be the excuse when we get knocked out in the second round? From what ive seen from this year it would be a miracle for us to make it to the sweet 16. This is tournament time and the refs usually don’t call as many fouls. Will we get bullied by our first round opponent? Will we refrain from our soft ways and play basketball. It has been a slug fest this season but that works both ways you either adapt or tuck your tail between your legs. Usually we tuck our tail between our legs we will see soon enough.
I think Butler is not 100 percent but busts his butt to play in a lot more pain than we understand
If they don’t take care of the basketball it’ll be quick.