K entucky will be without a major part of their backcourt against Alabama on Friday in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament, as Lamont Butler has been ruled out after injuring

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 standout point guard Lamont Butler exited the Wildcats' Southeastern Conference tournament second-round game against Oklahoma on Thursday after he aggravated his left shoulder injury. Butler was hurt just past the midway point of the first half and missed the rest of the game.