Kentucky achieved their first significant victory of the season by defeating No. 6 Duke in the Champions Classic, marking Mark Pope’s initial standout win as head coach of the Wildcats. Lamont Butler played a crucial role in this triumph, particularly with his free throws in the closing minutes alongside Otega Oweh.
Pope recognizes Butler’s importance to the team, noting that when Butler is on the court, Kentucky’s performance improves significantly. He referred to Butler as the “foundation” of the team, emphasizing the necessity of unity for success.
“Lamont (Butler) is the cornerstone of this team. If you get to know him, he’s one of the best individuals I’ve ever encountered—this isn’t an exaggeration. He’s a winner. We discussed how we’re in this together, through thick and thin. That’s the bond of this team. I feel the same about Otega (Oweh) and Andrew (Carr). We support each other and won’t stray away. After a tough half, play, or game, we come back to one another. Lamont doesn’t need much; he possesses a winner’s mindset, and his remarkable performance in the second half truly lifted us,” said Pope about Butler and the team’s togetherness.
Butler’s contributions were consistent across the board, as he scored 9 points with a shooting line of 3-7 overall and 1-3 from beyond the arc, additionally providing 4 assists and 3 rebounds. Although he didn’t record any steals or blocks, his backcourt partner Otega Oweh contributed with a block and 2 steals.
Kentucky demonstrated commendable resilience and composure to secure the victory, with Butler making key contributions along the way.
