Mark Pope gave an encouraging update on Kentucky guard Lamont Butler ahead of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. Butler, who had aggravated his shoulder during Kentucky’s win over Oklahoma in the SEC Tournament, will be available for the Wildcats’ opening-round game next week. He was unable to play in Kentucky’s loss to Alabama on Friday due to the injury.
This news is a significant relief for Kentucky, as Butler plays a key role in the team’s offense. He has been averaging 11.5 points and 4.3 assists per game this season. The update also comes as a pleasant surprise, as Pope had expressed concerns about Butler’s status earlier in the week after the Oklahoma game. Butler has already missed nine games this season due to injuries, but Kentucky is hopeful that he will be healthy enough to contribute throughout the NCAA Tournament.
With the Wildcats gearing up for March Madness, Kentucky will learn its seed when the bracket is revealed at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday evening. The availability of Butler will be crucial for Kentucky’s postseason run as they look to make a deep tournament push.