Kentucky’s basketball team boasts numerous exceptional shooters, contributing to Mark Pope’s squad having one of the top offenses in college basketball.
Starting point guard Lamont Butler can hit three-pointers, although he may not be known as a prolific deep shooter. Last season with San Diego State, Butler recorded a three-point shooting percentage of 30.2%, and his career-best is 34.2%. However, in the Wildcats’ first four games of the season, he has elevated his accuracy to 44.4% from beyond the arc.
Butler’s improved performance can be attributed to various factors, one of which is the confidence Coach Pope instills in all his players to take three-point shots. Following the Wildcats’ victory over Lipscomb, Butler remarked, “He doesn’t hesitate with any shot. If I feel comfortable shooting it, he’s comfortable with it. It definitely gives us confidence to go out there and just make shots and make plays.”
If Butler can maintain around a 40% three-point shooting rate this season, it would significantly enhance the offense by adding another capable shooter to the court.
Burton isn’t the only player to comment on how conducive this system is for shooting, given the strong support Coach Pope provides. It’s evident that Coach Pope excels in boosting his players’ confidence in their shot selection, which is a key factor in making the Wildcats a formidable team from deep.
