The Kentucky Wildcats have been dealt a significant blow ahead of their massive SEC showdown at Tennessee on Tuesday night. Senior guard Lamont Butler, who has emerged as one of the conference’s premier backcourt players this season, will miss the game due to a nagging shoulder injury that has limited him in recent weeks.
Butler’s absence was confirmed by Kentucky head coach Mark Pope following the Wildcats’ disappointing loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday. The 6-foot-2 transfer from San Diego State has been the engine that makes Kentucky’s offense go, averaging an impressive 13.2 points, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting a blistering 40% from beyond the arc.
“Lamont, he’s got a lot right now. We all know what a warrior he is,” Pope said. “He is giving us everything he’s got right now. But it’s hard for him, physically, right now.”
– Kentucky coach Mark Pope on Lamont Butler’s injury
Next Man Up for Kentucky
With Butler unavailable, look for junior Jaxson Robinson to take on an increased role running the point for Kentucky. The 6-foot-6 wing has shown flashes of his playmaking ability, dishing out 5 assists earlier this season against Gonzaga when Butler was sidelined. Robinson also capably orchestrated the offense in a win over Colgate when both Butler and Kerr Kriisa were out.
The Wildcats have struggled with consistency after a hot start, dropping 4 of their last 8 games following a 10-1 start to the season. At 14-5 overall and 3-3 in SEC play, Kentucky badly needs a signature win to steady the ship and bolster their postseason resume. Doing so without their floor general and against a top-10 Tennessee squad on the road is a tall task indeed.
Injury Bug Biting Kentucky
The Butler injury is just the latest in a string of ailments that have hampered Kentucky. In addition to their star guard being sidelined:
- Forward Andrew Carr missed the Vanderbilt game and is questionable vs Tennessee with a back issue
- Kerr Kriisa remains out after undergoing ankle surgery in December
If the 12th-ranked Wildcats hope to take down No. 8 Tennessee on the road, they’ll need their remaining rotation players to step up in a big way to fill the void left by Butler and potentially Carr as well. Tip-off from Knoxville is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN in what promises to be a physical, hard-fought battle between two of the SEC’s perennial powers. Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament hopes could hang in the balance.
