A fter Mark Pope's comments on Friday essentially alluded to Lamont Butler returning for the Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament, it's now official after CBS Sports' Jon Roth

Lamont Butler, Kentucky basketball's starting point guard, departed in the middle of the first half Thursday during UK's opening game in Nashville.

Kentucky, a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, is set to face No. 14 seed Troy in the first round. While the Wildcats are favored to advance, the importance of having a full-strength roster cannot be overstated. Butler’s return ensures Kentucky can operate at full capacity, giving them a strong chance to assert dominance from the outset.