Lamont Butler insists he has moved past his shoulder injury.
"I think we've got it good now," Butler said Monday. "I think if I had played other games, it could have been a setback, but I think now, it's healthy enough to be good for the long term."
Butler returned to the lineup Saturday after missing three previous games, including Kentucky’s 78-73 win over Tennessee two weeks ago in Knoxville. He scored eight points and dished out three assists in an 80-57 win over South Carolina on Saturday.
Butler is “excited” about playing the fifth-ranked Volunteers on Tuesday night. Following back-to-back losses to Kentucky and No. 1 Auburn last month, Tennessee (20-4, 7-4) carries a three-game winning streak into the border battle.
“I know it’s a rivalry between Kentucky and Tennessee,” Butler said. “The last game, we got them at their place so (now) we’ve got to protect our homecourt. Our job is to protect homecourt.”
The San Diego State transfer admitted it was difficult to sit out three of the team’s past four games.
“It was tough,” Butler said. “I wanted to be out there with the guys, competing with them, especially on the road because we know how tough it is on the road. I was excited to see how they battled and how hard they played.”
During his time off the court, Butler observed the team’s defensive lapses in losses to Arkansas and Ole Miss.
“I think, the games that we lost, we needed to step up defensively,” Butler said. “I think we didn’t have the edge we usually play with. We just have to bring a better effort. I think it’s my job to come in and bring the effort and the energy on that end. I think we weren’t giving multiple efforts on plays. We would guard for 15 or 20 seconds well and then we have a breakdown in the last 10 seconds.”
Tennessee Associate Coach Justin Gainey said Butler’s presence will be a difference-maker in the rematch between the two conference foes.
Lamont’s really good,” Tennessee associate coach Justin Gainey said. “He’s kind of the head of the snake, you know, he’s the head of the snake for them. He sets the tempo, he says the pace. He can score, he can facilitate. He’s dynamic in transition and he’s also a really good defender. I think he changes them drastically.”
‘MOUNTAIN MAMBA’
Harlan County graduate Trent Noah has been giving the Wildcats a lift off the bench and has scored 10 points in the last three games he has played. It started with five points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the second half of the win over the Vols last month.
The performance earned Noah the nickname, “Mountain Mamba,” and Noah has embraced it.
“I mess with it (and) I like it a lot,” Noah said. “That was really clever, whoever came up with that. I think it kind of represents me really, really well. That’s cool.”
Butler also liked the nickname, but added more on the way for the freshman guard.
“That’s just one of the nicknames he’s gonna get,” Butler said. “I’m pretty sure he’ll get a bunch as his time goes on (at Kentucky).”
SEC DOMINATION
The Southeastern Conference has five teams ranked in the Top 10 and nine among the Top 25 teams ranked in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Auburn is No. 1, followed by Alabama at No.2 and Florida is tied with Duke in third. Tennessee is fifth, Texas A&M eighth, Kentucky No. 15, Ole Miss 19th, Missouri No. 21 and Mississippi State 22nd.
Kentucky has compiled a 6-1 record against teams ranked in the the top 15 this season.
Gametracker: Tennessee at Kentucky, 6 p.m., Tuesday. TV/Radio: ESPN, UK Radio Network.
Lamont Butler's return after missing three games with a shoulder injury boosted Kentucky to an 80-57 win over South Carolina on Saturday. (Photo by Les Nicholson)
