Tennessee, Kentucky Meet in Sweet 16 for First Time

Tennessee and Kentucky are set to face off in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in history, with the game taking place on Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Tennessee, the No. 2 seed, has lost both regular-season matchups against the No. 3 seed Wildcats this year, losing 78-73 and 75-63. Despite these setbacks, Tennessee enters the game with momentum after a strong performance against UCLA in the previous round. The Vols have shown improvement in shooting, particularly with Chaz Lanier averaging 24.5 points in the tournament so far. Kentucky, returning to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019, will aim to upset Tennessee, who is favored by 4.5 points. This matchup marks a significant moment in their long-standing rivalry, which dates back to 1910 but has never included a postseason meeting.