Tennessee Basketball: Rick Barnes Offers Strong Lamont Butler Take Amid Kentucky Star’s Concerning Injury

The No. 5 Tennessee basketball took another stumble at the hands of the No. 15 Kentucky Wildcats, with Rick Barnes’ team suffering a 75-64 loss in Lexington on Tuesday. The loss came on the heels of a three-game win streak for the Volunteers, who dropped to 20-5 overall in the 2024-25 college basketball season and 7-5 in SEC play.

After the game, Barnes spent time talking about the Wildcats, particularly Kentucky senior guard Lamont Butler, who hurt his shoulder in the second half. 

“Well, he’s really good defensively, Barnes said of Butler during the postgame press conference (via Zack Geoghegan of On3). “ He’s the best downhill driver and a guy that’s experienced, been around,” Barnes added.

The 70-year-old coach also said showed concern for Butler’s injury and its timing.

“I love the way he plays. I really do, and I hope that he did not get hurt again because those shoulders are hard to deal with this time of year, especially when you’re at the point where you’re getting hit a lot,” Barnes continued.

“I just hate that for him and for them. But he’s a difference-maker because, one, he’s tough or knows can affect the game on both ends.” 

Butler was not around in the first meeting this season between Tennessee basketball and Kentucky due to a shoulder injury, which also forced him to miss three games.  

Tennessee basketball’s defense a letdown in loss to Kentucky