West Virginia’s Butler says injured wrist won’t affect his game in NCAA regional final

Injured Butler says he’s OK to play

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — West Virginia guard De’Sean Butler says his injured right hand will not affect his play in the NCAA tournament’s regional final.

Butler says he wrapped his hand and wrist in ice after Friday’s practice as a precaution. Butler clutched his right hand in pain after a hard fall in West Virginia’s 69-56 win over Washington on Thursday night.

Butler says he shot well at practice and hopes that will carry over into the game against top-seeded Kentucky.

He has hit six game-winning shots for the Mountaineers this season and leads them in scoring at 17.4 points.