Kentucky basketball can reach Final Four. It’s because Cats have point guard who knows how
MILWAUKEE — Kentucky basketball’s Lamont Butler showed why successful March Madness runs belong to point guards. Showed why the Wildcats are going to be a tough team to eliminate from the NCAA Tournament. And why it won’t be that surprising to see the Cats advance to San Antonio for the Final Four.
Just looking at the box score from UK’s 84-75 second-round win over Illinois, it’s hard to tell the kind of impact Butler’s 14 points and five assists had on the game. And certainly Koby Brea’s game-high-tying 23 points helped power the Cats through to next week’s Sweet 16 in Indianapolis.
But make no mistake, Butler controlled this game.
This is what a Final Four pedigree looks like. This is why UK coach Mark Pope knew he needed a point guard like Butler so much, he was on a plane to California with his loosely established staff to meet in person less than 12 hours after giving his initial recruiting pitch over the phone.
It was clear early on against the Illini that Butler was not going to let Kentucky lose.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever coached a player that is more desperate to … not let down his team,” Pope said. “Like it is in his soul, from a deep, deep place, like, ‘I’ve got to rise up for my team.'”
Butler is clearly still ailing from a left shoulder injury that has hampered him for most of the past two months. In the Cats’ win over Troy in the first round, he appeared to favor his shoulder so much he appeared to avoid contact through drives and while chasing opponents through picks.
He was back running the show in a way not seen since before his injury occurred in late January. Butler credited his play to wearing a shoulder brace that “was a little less restrictive” than the one he wore against Troy and allowed him to play more freely.
Not having to think about his shoulder allowed Butler to get back to his knack of doing what’s needed at the right time.
Kentucky basketball can reach Final Four. It’s because Cats have point guard who knows how
Portrait of C.L. BrownC.L. Brown
Louisville Courier Journal
Kentucky point guard Lamont Butler scored 14 points and had five assists in the Wildcats’ 84-75 win over Illinois.
Butler, who has been battling a shoulder injury, controlled the game and made key plays down the stretch.
MILWAUKEE — Kentucky basketball’s Lamont Butler showed why successful March Madness runs belong to point guards. Showed why the Wildcats are going to be a tough team to eliminate from the NCAA Tournament. And why it won’t be that surprising to see the Cats advance to San Antonio for the Final Four.
Just looking at the box score from UK’s 84-75 second-round win over Illinois, it’s hard to tell the kind of impact Butler’s 14 points and five assists had on the game. And certainly Koby Brea’s game-high-tying 23 points helped power the Cats through to next week’s Sweet 16 in Indianapolis.
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But make no mistake, Butler controlled this game.
This is what a Final Four pedigree looks like. This is why UK coach Mark Pope knew he needed a point guard like Butler so much, he was on a plane to California with his loosely established staff to meet in person less than 12 hours after giving his initial recruiting pitch over the phone.
It was clear early on against the Illini that Butler was not going to let Kentucky lose.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever coached a player that is more desperate to … not let down his team,” Pope said. “Like it is in his soul, from a deep, deep place, like, ‘I’ve got to rise up for my team.'”
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Butler is clearly still ailing from a left shoulder injury that has hampered him for most of the past two months. In the Cats’ win over Troy in the first round, he appeared to favor his shoulder so much he appeared to avoid contact through drives and while chasing opponents through picks.
He was back running the show in a way not seen since before his injury occurred in late January. Butler credited his play to wearing a shoulder brace that “was a little less restrictive” than the one he wore against Troy and allowed him to play more freely.
Not having to think about his shoulder allowed Butler to get back to his knack of doing what’s needed at the right time.
In the first half, that meant scoring more.
UK leading scorer Otega Oweh picked up his second foul with 12:31 remaining. Oweh sat for the rest of the half and, largely thanks to Butler, the Cats didn’t really miss him.
Butler darted down the lane cradling the ball like a running back to complete one layup in the first half. He stepped outside and drained a 3-pointer then made another on a step-back. It was the first time he’s made more than one 3 in a game since going 2 for 5 on Jan. 18 against Alabama.
His 10 points in the first half marked just the second time Butler reached double-figure scoring since Jan. 28, the first game he missed due to his shoulder injury.
In the second half, that meant making momentum-snatching plays.
Illinois was trying to get its partisan crowd at Fiserv Forum riled up, having chipped a 15-point deficit down to 10. The Illini forced a missed layup from Oweh and started in transition up the floor looking to cut UK’s lead to single digits for the first time since the start of the second half.
But Butler trailed guard Kasparas Jakucionis and looped around him from left to right to steal the ball and make a quick dish to Brandon Garrison for basket and a foul with 4:37 left.
“It was just an instinctual play, nothing more to it,” Butler said.
To Butler maybe, but to the rest of the team, it was everything.
Brea was backpedaling trying to get into position defensively when he looked up to see Butler make the play.
“It completely changed the game in my head,” Brea said. “I remember I felt like, ‘We got ’em’ after that. So it’s just a testament to him and how good he is.”
There’s no replacing Butler’s experience. Having played for the 2023 national title with San Diego State gives him a calm under pressure that no one else can replicate. It’s clear just his presence on the floor, even while still recovering from his injury, brings a confidence and reassurance to the rest of the UK lineup.
That’s no knock against freshman Collin Chandler, who was used primarily as Butler’s replacement when he needed a breather. Or freshman Travis Perry, who played as Butler’s backup most of the time during the regular season.
Butler is able to elevate the Cats to play at their best. And from the looks of it, the best is yet to come.
