Kentucky will be without its starting point guard against No. 7 Gonzaga, head coach Mark Pope announced. Lamont Butler, who rolled his ankle in the team’s loss at Clemson, has been declared out ahead of the opening tip.

“Lamont is out tonight,” he said. “The performance team has been working like crazy trying to get him back, but just couldn’t quite get him back healthy where he was able to be on the floor and be explosive.”

Pope previously called the injury “a little bit of an issue,” but was “super hopeful” Butler would be able to give it a go in Seattle.

The graduate transfer from Moreno Valley, CA is currently averaging 12.9 points, 3.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 22.5 minutes per game as the team’s do-it-all threat in the backcourt. How will the Wildcats replace that production? Kerr Kriisa will get the start at point guard with Jaxson Robinson and Travis Perry also getting some playing time, Pope announced.

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