Kentucky got a win, Butler back out on the floor

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No. 14 Kentucky got a needed win.

Kentucky needed Lamont Butler on the court at point guard, and it got that.

That was the halftime scene with Kentucky ruling South Carolina by 14 points Saturday afternoon.

No. 14 Kentucky would take out two losses worth of frustration — maybe all four losses in this 5-game stretch — with an 80-57 blasting of South Carolina at a revived Rupp Arena.

Butler makes Kentucky completely different just being on the court. That was the one major truth to come out of this feel-good stretch of two hours for the Wildcats.

“Very much helped us having Lamont back,” UK coach Mark Pope said. “Just his presence. We just taped him up and rolled him out there. But his presence really helped us for sure.

His numbers weren’t huge, but he was out there for 23 minutes, and that was everything for a Kentucky team that really needed a win. He had eight points, three assists, three turnovers.

South Carolina coach Lamont Paris joined the number of UK opponents who got a dose of what Butler can bring to Kentucky’s team.

“More than anything, aside from him being a good player, it changes the dynamics of what some other guys are out there doing on the court,” Paris said. “Maybe some guys are in more natural roles. I think that is probably the thing I noticed the most. He is a competitor. He has started all these games for a reason. He helps them play their best version of basketball on both ends of the court.”

Butler was not at 100%, but this was more than an effective test for him.

Pope also seemed to find a more solid backup for what Butler can bring in Koby Brea.

Brea has worked off the bench most of the season, which added even more offensive firepower this season for UK.

He scored 10 points, passed for six assists and pulled down five rebounds. Pope thought Brea made the most impact on the defensive end of the floor.

“He was incredible on the defensive end,” Pope said of Brea. “His gaps were incredible and his digs were incredible. We were…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kentucky-got-win-butler-back-101700621.html

Author : Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.

Publish date : 2025-02-09 10:17:00

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