Even though Mark Pope said Lamont Butler hadn’t had any live reps in practice leading up to Friday night’s game vs. Troy, Butler getting the start was a huge confidence boost in the Kentucky Wildcats’ first NCAA Tournament win of the Pope era.

Butler finished Friday night with three assists and two rebounds in Kentucky’s 76-57 win over No. 14 seed Troy. He didn’t score, but he also had one block in 25 minutes. He was the +/- champ at +22, so his impact was clearly felt in Kentucky’s 19-point win.

After the game, Pope offered a telling quote on Butler as he continues to battle through injury.

“Lamont’s arm is hanging on by a thread,” said Pope.

Butler himself was seen praising “I made it through” after the game.

Butler has been a huge part of Kentucky’s first roster in the Pope era. Earlier on Friday, Jay Wright was talking on Capital One Tournament Central about what makes Kentucky so successful on offense and how they have progressed on defense this season.

Wright mentioned how college basketball players today want to play offense, which helps assemble a brand new roster through the transfer portal. But defense can take more time to develop throughout the course of the season.

That’s where Butler’s presence is so crucial. He was a two-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year at San Diego State and led the Aztecs to the 2023 National Championship Game and the Sweet 16 in 2024.

Butler struggled on the offensive end Friday night against Troy, but he made up for it on the defensive end. He sets the tone for the Wildcats on the defensive end, just as he did when he first returned from his ongoing shoulder injury back in mid-February.

There was a play near the end of the first half Friday night where Butler caused a loose ball, disrupting Troy’s plan to run the clock down for the last shot. CBS’s Stan Van Gundy had effusive praise for Butler’s ability to get over the screen and cause the loose ball on the play. Troy had just 1.8 seconds on the shot clock when they retained possession, forcing a rushed shot and scoreless possession to end the first half.

Butler wears a brace on his left shoulder, which may be causing him to not have as much range of motion on his jump shot. But as long as Butler is setting the tone on the defensive end, that is his role on this Wildcats team.

Kentucky will definitely need him to set the defensive tone on Sunday against No. 6 seed Illinois or No. 11 Xavier.