Kentucky guard Lamont Butler on Lipscomb: 'They have the power to beat us'

Wildcats prepare for Friday's NCAA Tournament opener against Nashville school

Kentucky guard Lamont Butler knows all about Lipscomb. He grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, and played against the Bisons several times in high school. He knows they're a good team, and he knows they have the power to beat Kentucky.

"They're a very well-coached team," Butler said. "They have a lot of guys who can shoot the ball, and they play hard. We're going to have to be ready for them."

Lipscomb is a 15-seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they're no pushover. They won the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament to earn their spot in the Big Dance, and they have a few players who can hurt Kentucky.

KJ Johnson is a 6-foot-7 forward who averages 17.9 points per game. He's a good shooter and rebounder, and he can create his own shot.

Ahsan Asadullah is a 6-foot-3 guard who averages 16.3 points per game. He's a good scorer and passer, and he can make plays for himself and others.

Trae Benham is a 6-foot-2 guard who averages 14.7 points per game. He's a good shooter and defender, and he can make big plays in big moments.

Kentucky is a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament, and they're the heavy favorite to beat Lipscomb. But Butler knows that anything can happen in the NCAA Tournament, and he's not taking Lipscomb lightly.

"We're going to have to play our best game to beat them," Butler said. "They're a good team, and they have the power to beat us."