Tennessee Volunteers Advance to Elite Eight with Victory Over Kentucky Wildcats

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The No. 2 seeded Tennessee Volunteers took down the No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats 78-65 in the Sweet 16, securing their place in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The match unfolded on March 28, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium, showcasing a powerful performance by the Volunteers, who controlled the pace of the game from the start. Tennessee’s Zakai Ziegler led all scorers with 18 points, alongside nine assists, while Chaz Lanier added 17 points.

Tennessee dominated the first half, building a significant lead that reached 19 points. The Volunteers managed to stay in front for most of the game, with Kentucky struggling to respond at both ends of the court. According to the statistics, Tennessee out-rebounded Kentucky 13-6 early on, leading to nine second-chance points, which contributed significantly to their advantage.

“We came out strong and set the tone early,” Ziegler said after the game. “Our defense tightened up, and we executed our plays well, which helped us maintain the lead throughout the match.”

Despite Kentucky’s resurgence in the second half, including a powerful dunk from Lamont Butler, they were unable to close the gap significantly. Tennessee’s strategy and depth of scoring were critical in this matchup, as they maintained a double-digit lead throughout most of the game.

Kentucky’s strong performance was reflected in individual contributions, with Butler matching Ziegler’s scoring output at 18 points, stemming from a notable effort to rally his team. However, the Wildcats’ inability to find consistent scoring and their missed opportunities ultimately cost them the game. “We dug ourselves a hole early on and couldn’t recover,” Butler stated postgame.

The Volunteers will now face the winner of the match between the No. 1 seed and No. 4 seed in the upcoming Elite Eight round. This victory marks Tennessee’s second consecutive trip to the Elite Eight, putting them in a position to vie for their first Final Four appearance.

“We know what’s at stake now,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “Our focus is firmly on getting to that next level, and it’s an exciting time for our program.”