KSR Today: Welcome to Sweet 16 Week

adamluckettksr

Mar 23, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Koby Brea (4) reacts after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

In 2019, Kentucky blew a double-digit lead against Houston and trailed by three with 1:16 remaining before some Tyler Herro crunch time shotmaking got the program to its seventh Elite Eight appearance in 10 years. No one in Kansas City or the Commonwealth that weekend knew that the program would wait six long years before returning to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

That long wait is finally over. Kentucky handled its business from start to finish in a 84-75 victory over top-20 Illinois in the second round on Sunday evening. The Big Blue Nation has been rejoicing.

Kentucky drops Illinois and is dancing into the Sweet 16. pic.twitter.com/9jUFIOB2tw
— KSR (@KSRonX) March 23, 2025

Mark Pope has Kentucky in the Sweet 16. The opponent? Only hated rival Tennessee. That will certainly add some juice to a fun week that this program and fan base has not experienced in a half decade. Get ready for a fun few days as we get ready for tip-off in Indianapolis. I can already smell the stuffed breadsticks at Kilroy’s.

KSR Today is taking a quick look back at Kentucky’s upset win over Illinois in the NCAA Tournament before pivoting to the match-up with No. 2 seed Tennessee.

KSR recaps Kentucky’s win over Illinois

KSR has you covered from every angle as we recap Kentucky’s second-round victory.

Smash those links.

Kentucky and Tennessee will meet in the NCAA Tournament for the first time

Kentucky and Tennessee have met on the hardwood 241 times. Kentucky owns a commanding series lead (163-78) and a 5-1 record against the Vols over the last six meetings. However, Friday’s contest at Lucas Oil Stadium will be the first time these two SEC programs have met in the NCAA Tournament.

The biggest game in program history has officially arrived.

Chalk has held in the Midwest to set up regional semifinal matchups between Houston-Purdue and Tennessee-Kentucky. There will be four top-16 KenPom teams in Indy. Tennessee (29-7) handled its business in Lexington with double-digit victories over Wofford and UCLA. Now the Vols will be looking to avoid a third loss in the same season to Kentucky. That hasn’t happened since 2005.

The lead-up to this Sweet 16 could be pretty special. KSR will be busy — and having a lot of fun — as we get a third tango with the Vols. Kentucky could become the latest team to extend Tennessee’s Final Four drought.

Sweet 16: Tip times, TV schedule

We already know the schedule for Sweet 16 Thursday and Friday. The Cats surprisingly got an early tip-off on TBS.

Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

Game	Region	Date	Time	Channel	Announcers
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 2 Alabama	East (Newark)	Thursday	7:09 p.m. ET	CBS	Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 1 Florida	West (San Francisco)	Thursday	7:30 p.m. ET	TBS	Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 1 Duke	East (Newark)	Thursday	9:39 p.m. ET	CBS	Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce
No. 10 Arkansas vs. No. 3 Texas Tech	West (San Francisco)	Thursday	10:09 p.m. ET	TBS	Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 2 Michigan State	South (Atlanta)	Friday	7:09 p.m. ET	CBS	Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 2 Tennessee	Midwest (Indianapolis)	Friday	7:39 p.m. ET	TBS	Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 1 Auburn	South (Atlanta)	Friday	9:39 p.m. ET	CBS	Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 1 Houston	Midwest (Indianapolis)	Friday	10:09 p.m. ET	TBS	Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn

Sweet 16 appearances

Kentucky: 46
Duke: 34
Michigan State: 22
Arizona: 21
Michigan: 19
Houston: 17
Purdue: 16
Arkansas/Maryland: 15
Alabama/Florida: 12
Tennessee: 11
Texas Tech: 9
Auburn/BYU: 6
Ole Miss: 2
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) March 24, 2025

Kentucky WBB falls to Kansas State in Round of 32

The first season under Kenny Brooks came to an end on Sunday afternoon in Lexington. No. 5 seed Kansas State took No. 4 seed Kentucky to the overtime and pulled away for a dramatic 80-79 victory.

The Big 12 foe poured in 14 three-point field goals and Kentucky star Georgia Amoore scored only 18 points on 23 shot attempts. The Virginia Tech transfer’s shot at the buzzer would not go. That ultimately ended Kentucky’s season.

The Wildcats finished the year at 23-8. Brooks saw his team got 4-6 in their final 10 games after a 19-2 start. Attention in Lexington will now switch to the transfer portal as UK looks to reload its roster after a strong debut season.

Game Recap: Kentucky falls to Kansas State

Kentucky baseball avoids sweep

Kentucky entered a big three-game series against Auburn at home looking for a bounce-back after suffering three losses in four games to Georgia and Murray State last week. Things got off to a bad start when the Bat Cats dropped consecutive two one-run games to Auburn.

Nick Mingione’s squad got things turned around on Sunday in a 6-0 victory. The Cats were plus-four in run differential this weekend despite losing the series.

Cats break out the creams for the first time in 2025, shut out No. 16 Auburn. pic.twitter.com/H0njJ27Thh
— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) March 23, 2025

Kentucky (15-7, 2-4) scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back. Starting pitcher Ben Cleaver allowed just one hit in 4.1 innings. The Cats will be back in action at Kentucky Proud Park on Tuesday when they host Xavier at 6:30 p.m. ET in a non-conference contest.