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MILWAUKEE — Kentucky basketball’sLamont Butler showed why successful March Madness runs belong to point guards. 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 them 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.
Butler's Final Four pedigree from his time at San Diego State kicked in as he faced the thought of playing in his final collegiate game. It was clear early on that he was not going to let Kentucky lose.
It was especially important in the first half, when 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.
There’s no replacing Butler’s experience, just his presence on the floor brings a confidence and reassurance to the rest of the UK lineup.
That’s no knock against freshman Collin Chandler, whom coach Mark Pope used primarily as Butler’s replacement when he needed a breather. Or freshman Travis Perry, who has played Butler’s backup most of the time during the regular season.
Butler has a knack of doing what’s needed at the right time.
Illinois was trying to get its partisan crowd at Fiserv Forum riled up, having chipped a 15-point deficit down to 10. It forced a missed layup from Oweh and started in transition up the floor.
Butler trailed Tomislav Ivisic 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.
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 tried 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. With elimination on the line, Butler didn’t wait to get involved in the game. He stayed aggressive with no regard to his injury.
He 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 figures since Jan. 28, the first game he missed due to his shoulder injury.
This column will be updated.
Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at [email protected], follow him on X at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at profile.courier-journal.com/newsletters/cl-browns-latest to make sure you never miss one of his columns.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: Lamont Butler can lead Pope's squad to Final Four
Continue reading...
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.
Butler's Final Four pedigree from his time at San Diego State kicked in as he faced the thought of playing in his final collegiate game. It was clear early on that he was not going to let Kentucky lose.
It was especially important in the first half, when 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.
There’s no replacing Butler’s experience, just his presence on the floor brings a confidence and reassurance to the rest of the UK lineup.
That’s no knock against freshman Collin Chandler, whom coach Mark Pope used primarily as Butler’s replacement when he needed a breather. Or freshman Travis Perry, who has played Butler’s backup most of the time during the regular season.
Butler has a knack of doing what’s needed at the right time.
Illinois was trying to get its partisan crowd at Fiserv Forum riled up, having chipped a 15-point deficit down to 10. It forced a missed layup from Oweh and started in transition up the floor.
Butler trailed Tomislav Ivisic 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.
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 tried 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. With elimination on the line, Butler didn’t wait to get involved in the game. He stayed aggressive with no regard to his injury.
He 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 figures since Jan. 28, the first game he missed due to his shoulder injury.
This column will be updated.
Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at [email protected], follow him on X at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at profile.courier-journal.com/newsletters/cl-browns-latest to make sure you never miss one of his columns.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: Lamont Butler can lead Pope's squad to Final Four
Continue reading...
