In a game that will be remembered for years to come, Lamont Butler delivered one of the greatest performances in the history of the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry. Kentucky head coach Mark Pope lauded Butler’s incredible 33-point effort in the Wildcats’ 93-85 victory over Louisville, calling it “one of the all-time greatest performances” in the series.
Butler, who had been nursing an ankle injury, played a near-perfect game in his first and likely only encounter with the Cardinals. Despite missing two games due to the injury, Butler came back strong, finishing with a career-high 33 points, including a flawless 10-for-10 shooting performance from the field, with six of those shots coming from beyond the arc. His shooting precision helped the Wildcats maintain a commanding lead over Louisville.
“It was unbelievable credit to him,” Pope said postgame. “Lamont Butler just gave us one of the all-time greatest performances in the history of this super special game.” The performance not only earned him the game’s MVP honor but also etched his name in Kentucky basketball history, as his 33 points were the most by a Wildcat this season.
Butler’s remarkable effort came after an 11-day break to recover from his injury, during which he worked tirelessly with the team’s trainers to get back to full strength. The 32 minutes he played were the most in a game this season, and he also contributed six assists and three rebounds.
Despite struggling with free-throw shooting, Butler’s performance was historic in other ways. His 10-for-10 shooting is the third-best perfect shooting night in Kentucky history, and he became the first college player since 1996-97 to record at least 33 points and six assists while making every shot attempt.
“I just tried to make winning plays,” Butler said after the game, reflecting on his determination to help his team despite the lingering injury. His name is now forever part of the UK-UL rivalry, a testament to his toughness and composure in front of a raucous Rupp Arena crowd.
