LaMarch Madness or LaMarch Sadness? Kentucky basketball will need Lamont Butler at his best

As Kentucky prepares for their opening-round matchup against Troy, the Wildcats’ Lamont Butler has been the talk of the town. And with good reason. He recently wore a mic for practice at Fiserve Arena ahead of today's game against Troy, and his teammates kept calling him "LaMarch". In 2023 Lamont Butler hit a game winner in the Final Four to send San Deigo State to the championship game, which it lost. But if Kentucky can get that kind of production out of Butler with a bum should, the Cats have to like their chances.

In 24 starts with the Wildcats, Butler has posted career-highs across the board, averaging 11.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. His shooting efficiency is better than ever, hitting 49.2 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from beyond the arc. The impressive stats are made even more remarkable by the fact that Butler has been playing with a hurt shoulder for most of the SEC season, often wearing a bulky brace to keep it in place.

The shoulder injury forced Butler to miss Kentucky’s 3rd straight loss to Alabama in the SEC Tournament, a defeat that weighed heavily on the coaching staff. Mark Pope mentioned that they were in the office until 3 or 4 a.m., trying to figure out what went wrong and how to adjust moving forward. Despite the setback, Butler remains determined.

Nicknamed “LaMarch” by teammates for his ability to elevate his play when it matters most, Butler’s mentality has never wavered. The Wildcats are chasing their first National Championship since 2012, and first Sweet 16 since 2019 and Butler’s leadership will be crucial. It all starts today against a Troy team that thrives on forcing turnovers and creating chaos. Taking care of the ball will be key, and Butler knows it.

Will it be LaMarch Madness as BBN hopes, or will Kentucky’s postseason dreams end in LaMarch Sadness once again? The answer lies ahead, and Butler is ready to lead the way.