Tennessee Volunteers, Kentucky Wildcats Clash in NCAA Sweet 16 Showdown

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WDRB) — The excitement is palpable as the Tennessee Volunteers prepare to face the Kentucky Wildcats in a pivotal Sweet 16 matchup of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The game is set to tip off at 7:39 p.m. EDT on Friday, March 28, at Lucas Oil Stadium, with a coveted spot in the Elite Eight on the line.

Tennessee, the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, has demonstrated impressive form during the tournament, starting with a solid 77-62 win over Wofford, a 15-seed. First-year transfer Chaz Lanier led the Volunteers with 29 points, marking the third-highest single-game scoring performance in NCAA Tournament history for the Vols. In the Round of 32, Tennessee defeated UCLA, the No. 7 seed, 67-58, with Lanier contributing another 20 points and breaking Chris Lofton‘s single-season three-pointer record with 120.

Meanwhile, Kentucky, the No. 3 seed, has emerged victorious in both of its tournament games so far. The Wildcats bested 14-seed Troy 76-57 in their opening match, with Otega Oweh scoring 20 points, and followed up with an 84-75 win against 6-seed Illinois, thanks to Koby Brea’s 23-point performance.

This Sweet 16 clash marks the third meeting this season between the two SEC rivals, with Kentucky winning both previous matchups: a 78-73 victory in Knoxville and a 75-64 win in Lexington. Both teams have storied histories and face the added pressure of their rivalry as they meet in the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

“It’s hard to beat a good team three times, but I believe Coach Mark Pope can do it,” said Max Adams, a Kentucky fan traveling to Indy for the game.

The atmosphere in Indianapolis is expected to be electric, with both fanbases eager to support their teams. The game will be broadcast live on TBS and truTV, with Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, and Evan Washburn calling the action. Local radio coverage will be on WLAP-AM 630 and WBUL-FM 98.1, featuring Tom Leach and Jack Givens.

“The chemistry is strong with this Kentucky team,” commented Rylea Marcum, a UK student. “It looks like they’re functioning better than ever earlier in the season.”

Coach Rick Barnes of Tennessee is eager to capitalize on his squad’s momentum against a Kentucky team that is riding high with confidence under Coach Pope. As both teams gear up for this historic battle, fans are left to speculate: Can Tennessee break the trend, or will Kentucky continue its dominance in this storied rivalry?