Tennessee Volunteers vs Kentucky Wildcats Picks and Predictions March 28th 2025

Kentucky, Tennessee Renew Rivalry in Historic NCAA Tournament Clash

INDIANAPOLIS — Blueblood prestige and modern dominance converge Friday night when No. 3 seed Kentucky meets No. 2 seed Tennessee in a highly anticipated Midwest Region semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium — the first-ever NCAA Tournament showdown between these longtime Southeastern Conference rivals.

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First Tournament Meeting Brings Familiar Foe on Biggest Stage

Tennessee (29-7) and Kentucky (24-11) will battle for a coveted Elite Eight spot with a potential Final Four bid just one win beyond. Despite a history steeped in SEC matchups, this marks the first time the storied programs have met in March Madness.

Kentucky swept the regular-season series, including a statement win at Rupp Arena in February that saw the Wildcats hold the Volunteers to 16.7 percent shooting from three-point range. But Wildcats head coach Mark Pope, in his first season back with the program, dismissed the notion of a psychological edge.

“This is a free-standing game,” Pope said. “This Tennessee team is one of the best in the country. You don’t expect to get any favors here.”

The Wildcats are riding a wave of momentum following convincing wins over Troy and Illinois, where they dominated defensively and shot a combined 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Vols Aim for History, Defense in Spotlight

Tennessee, a Sweet 16 participant for the third straight season, is chasing its first-ever Final Four appearance. The Vols have emerged as a national force under head coach Rick Barnes, and Friday represents a chance to take another significant step.

Led by sharpshooting transfer Chaz Lanier — who has poured in 49 points through the tournament’s opening two rounds — Tennessee is banking on a defensive bounce-back after two regular-season losses to Kentucky. Lanier has already shattered the school record with 120 made threes this season.

“We know we’re the best defense in the country,” point guard Zakai Zeigler said. “We didn’t show that the last two times we played them. That’s going to change.”

The Volunteers hold opponents to 63 points per game, but struggled to contain Kentucky’s spacing and ball movement in both prior meetings. This time, they’ll look to reassert their identity behind a veteran-laden roster motivated by unfinished business.

Wildcats Peaking at Right Time Under First-Year Coach Pope

Rebuilt and reenergized under Pope, Kentucky has rediscovered its championship DNA in March. Koby Brea (18.0 ppg in the tournament) and Otega Oweh (17.5 ppg) have emerged as dependable threats, helping the Wildcats overcome preseason doubt and a rough patch in SEC play.

For Pope, a former Wildcat himself, the opportunity to guide Kentucky this deep in his first season isn’t just a coaching milestone — it’s personal.

“We trust each other,” Brea said. “Tennessee is a great team, but we’re not changing anything. We’re here to be ourselves, and that’s been good enough so far.”

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A Final Four in Sight

The winner moves on to face either No. 1 seed Houston or No. 4 seed Purdue with a trip to the Final Four on the line. For Tennessee, it’s a chance to break through decades of near-misses. For Kentucky, it’s a step toward returning to the sport’s summit after several frustrating postseasons.

“It’s not just for us,” Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack said. “It’s for Knoxville. For the fans. For Coach Barnes. It’s time.”