Next up: The most consequential men’s basketball game ever between Kentucky and Tennessee
On Friday, March 28, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, border foe and No. 2 seed Tennessee (29-7) will take on No. 3 seed Kentucky (24-11).
Coach Rick Barnes’ Volunteers defeated UCLA 67-58 on Saturday in the round of 32 at Rupp Arena thanks to 20 points from Chaz Lanier, 15 from Zakai Zeigler, and 13 from Jordan Gainey. In series history, Kentucky has faced Tennessee 241 times, more than any other opponent. 163-78 is the Wildcats’ all-time series lead.
Mark Pope, head coach of the UK, is 2-0 against Tennessee. Rick Barnes, the coach of the Volunteers, is 11-12 as Tennessee’s coach and 12-14 overall versus Kentucky.
In the 2024–25 regular season, Kentucky defeated Tennessee sweeping. On January 28 in Knoxville, the No. 12 Wildcats defeated the No. 8 Volunteers 78-73 despite playing without a true point guard because of injuries. All five Cats starters, Amari Williams (10), Jaxson Robinson (17), Otega Oweh (14) and Ansley Almonor (12), scored in double digits as UK rode a wave to victory.
Despite the Wildcats losing starting point guard Lamont Butler to injury during the game, No. 15 UK defeated No. 5 UT 75-64 at Rupp Arena. Freshmen Trent Noah (11 points) and Travis Perry (eight points), both from Kentucky, were excellent for UK off the bench.
Tennessee has since gone 9-2 with victories over then-No. 7 Texas A&M, then-No. 6 Alabama, and then-No. 3 Auburn since losing to Kentucky at Rupp Arena on February 11. The Volunteers have only lost to then-No. 4 Florida in the SEC Tournament finals and to Mississippi on the road by two points since losing to UK.
