Mark Pope Comforts Lamont Butler After NCAA Tournament Exit
By Grant Grubbs | March 29, 2025
The Wildcats lost on Friday night. Tennessee beat Kentucky 78–65 at the Sweet Sixteen. This loss ended the college careers of seven seniors. Among them, guard Lamont Butler closed his season.
Outside the locker room, coach Mark Pope comforted Butler. Butler looked upset after his strong game. He scored 18 points and shot 4 of 5 on three-pointers. He also grabbed six rebounds and stole three balls.
Butler joined Kentucky last season after four years at San Diego State. He brought deep NCAA Tournament experience. In the second round, Butler scored 14 points and handed out five assists in a win over Illinois. Illini coach Brad Underwood praised his role. Underwood said Butler’s calm and skill might drive Kentucky further.
"How far they go depends on how far Lamont wants to take them," Underwood said. "They’re old, they’re experienced, and Lamont provides crucial leadership."
This season, Butler averaged 11.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He shot 48.7% on his field goals and 35.9% on threes. Many fans remember his grit. Butler played the season’s second half with a shoulder injury. The hurt came on January 25 against Vanderbilt and cost him nine games.
Coach Pope often praised Butler’s resolve. "It’s a miracle that he’s on the court," Pope said. "He just wants badly to be out there and help us. He’s making the ultimate sacrifice for his team, and I’m really proud of him."
Now, Butler lies off most NBA draft boards. But his strong will shows he will face new challenges ahead. Kentucky fans will continue to support him as he plans his next step.
