Tune in for a Sweet 16 matchup featuring the No. 2 seed Tennessee Volunteers (29-7, 12-6 SEC) and the No. 3 seed Kentucky Wildcats (24-11, 10-8 SEC) on Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium. The NCAA

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats took on the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Round of 32 and, despite being an underdog, found a way to win this game 84-75. Heading into this game, the key was defense.

In his first season on the job, Mark Pope leads the Kentucky Wildcats back to the Sweet 16 for the first time in six years. Koby Brea was the offensive star of the night.

With the win, Kentucky (24-11) advances to face SEC rival Tennessee in Indianapolis. The Wildcats won both regular-season matchups against the Volunteers, setting the stage for a thrilling third encounter with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. Friday’s showdown will test Kentucky’s resilience as they look to continue their deep tournament run.

As Kentucky prepares to face Illinois in the Round of 32 in this year’s NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats find themselves in an unfamiliar position—underdogs. Despite their status as a No. 3 seed, Kentucky enters Sunday’s matchup as a 1.5-point underdog to No. 6-seeded Illinois, a designation that has fueled the team’s motivation all season long.

Expert recap and game analysis of the Kansas State Wildcats vs. Kentucky Wildcats NCAAW game from March 23, 2025 on ESPN.

Temira Poindexter hit her eighth 3-pointer of the game with 1:09 left in overtime Sunday and fifth-seeded Kansas State pulled off a mild upset, 80-79, of No. 4 Kentucky on