Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky point guard Lamont Butler did not play in UK’s win at Tennessee and then played only 21 minutes in the win in Rupp Arena after injuring his shoulder again early in the second half.
However, Tennessee coach Rick Barnes certainly has paid a lot of attention to what Butler means to Kentucky.
“A lot of respect and admiration. I know I felt really bad in our game (in Rupp Arena). He got hit right there about 15 feet away from me. I knew the way he went down, it was tough,” Barnes said Thursday in Indianapolis.
The two teams play again tonight in the Sweet Sixteen and Butler is expected to be at full strength and coming off a brilliant game against Illinois.
“I’ve had two shoulder surgeries myself. I know how that feels. I’m not sure the extent of what he has, but when you get shoulder pain, it’s hard to sleep at night; you can never get comfortable in a bed,” Barnes said.
“I can tell you that — I don’t know how he’s done it because going out there knowing he’s a point guard, going get screened a lot, whether it’s on-ball screens or off-ball screens and keep fighting. I noticed watching film the other day, he was trying to protect it at one time. I see it. You have to have great admiration for a guy that is willing to go out and play in that type of pain.”
Kentucky coach Mark Pope never misses a chance to talk about Butler and his value to the team and did so again Thursday.
“It’s a beautiful thing as a coach, just like a beautiful thing as a parent — as a parent, when you see your children doing things better than you ever did them and being smarter than you ever were and doing things that are so brave and so bold, we all know what that feels like,” Pope said. “That’s how I feel about Lamont Butler. He’s doing things that you just shouldn’t have to ask a player to do.
“He’s never been diverted or distracted from his, like, core, which is like he wants to raise up and do this for his guys. He’s doing it at insane cost right now and with unbelievable bravery and unbelievable fortitude and gratitude.”
Pope believes others should pay attention to the sacrifices Butler has made.
“That’s why I love sports. I talk about sports, does it give us a chance to do something even more? We have to do the winning, but can you win and actually do something more than winning?” Pope said.
“And Lamont Butler, if there’s a guy that’s been symbolic of that on this team, you talk about a guy winning and doing more, it’s Lamont Butler. He’s really special.”
