Kentucky-Tennessee Rivalry Renewed in Sweet 16

Kentucky and Tennessee have shared a fierce SEC rivalry since the conference was established in 1932.

This season, their paths cross for a third time, now in the Sweet 16, with both teams battling for a coveted spot in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s historic for a league to have seven teams in the Sweet 16,” Kentucky coach Mark Pope said Thursday, per NCAA transcripts. “It’s been a challenging, yet incredible year in the SEC. You want to be in the toughest league, and this season has proven that. It’s been a blessing but also a struggle.”

Kentucky may have played a crucial role in preventing Tennessee from securing a No. 1 seed.

“There’s no exact logic to how things unfold, but the fact that we’re both here speaks volumes about our league and programs,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said Thursday. “Now, we get another chance to compete.”

How Kentucky Fared Against Tennessee This Season

The Wildcats claimed victory in both regular-season matchups against the Volunteers.

Without those wins, Kentucky would likely have dropped lower than a No. 3 seed, while Tennessee might have secured a No. 1 spot.

Their first clash was on Jan. 28, with Kentucky ranked No. 12 and Tennessee No. 8.

The Wildcats edged out a 78-73 win, overcoming a three-point halftime deficit with a strong second-half performance, outscoring Tennessee 48-40.

All five Kentucky starters—Jaxson Robinson, Otega Oweh, Koby Brea, Ansley Almonor, and Amari Williams—hit double figures, with Williams also pulling down 15 rebounds.

Tennessee’s Zakai Ziegler and Chaz Lanier struggled, shooting a combined 10-for-32 from the field.

The Second Meeting

Just two weeks later, on Feb. 11, the teams faced off again. Tennessee had climbed to No. 5 in the AP rankings, while Kentucky had slipped to No. 15.

Kentucky maintained control throughout, securing a 75-64 victory.

Williams had a quieter night, but Oweh and Almonor each contributed 13 points.

Ziegler bounced back with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting, but Lanier continued to struggle, shooting just 3-for-13, including 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.

The Challenge of Winning Three Times

Many coaches claim it’s tough to beat the same team three times in one season. Is that true?

In this case, it just might be. When two evenly matched teams meet, familiarity plays a huge role, making past results less predictive of the next encounter.

With both teams deeply familiar with each other’s strategies, their third showdown in the Sweet 16 could be an unforgettable battle.