"We got the right pieces to keep playing unselfish": Lamont Butler relies on Mark Pope's fast and fearless idea for Kentucky

Mark Pope and his first Kentucky roster went through their Pro Day on Monday and showcased a unique high-tempo offense. The playbook is based on quick shot attempts, aiming to take over 35 3-pointers per game. Another offensive pillar is rapid ball movement, which invites more collaborative plays rather than isolation matchups.

How much will Pope’s offense translate during tough matchups? Will the players be able to stay efficient in the run-and-gun scheme? Only the season will tell. However, Lamont Butler, one of the most experienced players on Kentucky’s roster, believes that the Wildcats have the personnel to pull it off.

"I remember one time in practice, we had kind of stopped and looked back to see what (coach) wanted us to run, and he wanted us to go, don't look back," Butler said on Tuesday. "Just go out there, play, have fun, cut hard, screen hard, play free, play confident.

"We think that's what's gonna be best for us to go out there and do. We got the right pieces to keep playing unselfish and being confident. That's going to be big for us."

All of Mark Pope's Wildcats players come either from the transfer portal or the 2024 recruiting efforts. While the mixture poses a lot of questions around chemistry and culture, it also makes them the most experienced Kentucky roster ever in terms of games played and games started.

Lamont Butler can be Mark Pope's biggest wild card this season

Lamont Butler comes to Kentucky after spending four years with the San Diego State Aztecs. He churned out his best statistical season last year, averaging 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. However, his impact is more visible on the defensive end.

Butler comes to Mark Pope’s roster as one of the best defensive guards in Division I after being the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year for the past two seasons.

While Pope will utilize Lamont Butler for what he does best, the 6-foot-2 guard does not shy away from big-time shots. He hit a game-winning buzzer-beater in the 2023 NCAA Final Four game against Florida Atlantic.