For the third-straight season, Tennessee will be playing in the Sweet Sixteen. But this will be the most unique Round of 16 game for the Vols in their program’s history.
Tennessee is set to take on their biggest rival, the Kentucky Wildcats, for a chance to advance to the Elite Eight in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Wile the two teams have faced off over 200 times in their storied rivalry, this will mark the first time they have played against each other in the NCAA Tournament. More on that in a bit.
Just like the last two rounds, I want to provide a “by the numbers” look at the Vols’ NCAA Tournament game against Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen. These two bitter rivals have played each other twice already this season, but their third meeting will arguably be their biggest yet.
Here are some fun facts and interesting statistics as two-seed Tennessee gets set to take on three-seed Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
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2005
The last time Tennessee lost three times to Kentucky in the same season was 20 years ago. The Vols lost all three meetings against the Wildcats during the 2004-05 season, dropping their contest in Knoxville 84-62, losing 73-61 in Lexington, then losing 76-62 in the SEC Tournament. The Vols went 14-17 that season and fired Buzz Peterson. They went on to hire Bruce Pearl, and the rest is history.
242
Friday night’s contest will mark the 242nd time these rivals have played each other. It will be the first time the two have played in the NCAA Tournament, though. This also marks the first time the Vols have faced an SEC team in the NCAA Tournament (Texas was still in the Big 12 in their 2024 meeting in the NCAAT). Tennessee is 78-163 all-time against the Wildcats.
5
This game marks just the fifth time these two rivals have met on a neutral court not located in one of their home states. Tennessee and Kentucky have played a handful of neutral site match-ups in both Nashville and Louisville, but they’ve only faced off four other times outside the states of Kentucky and Tennessee prior to Friday’s contest. The Vols are 2-2 in those neutral site games, which all took place in the SEC Tournament. Tennessee won in Tampa in 2022 and in Birmingham in 1979 but lost in St. Louis in 2018 and in Atlanta in 2005.
1
Tennessee has just one win against three-seeds in the NCAA Tournament, but it did come in their last meeting against one. The Vols are 1-2 all-time against three-seeds, but they won their last match-up with that seed line when they beat Creighton 82-75 in the Sweet Sixteen last year. Prior to that, UT lost to three-seed Purdue 99-94 in overtime in 2019 in the Sweet Sixteen and lost 79-60 to three-seed Louisville in the Sweet Sixteen in 2008. The Vols were a two-seed in all three previous occasions, like they are now.
2
The Vols have just two wins all-time in the Sweet Sixteen. Tennessee has advanced past this round only twice, making it to the Elite Eight in 2010 and 2024. They’re just 2-8 all-time in the Sweet Sixteen.
37
Kentucky, meanwhile, has 37 wins in the Sweet 16.
7
This game will mark the seventh time the Vols will have played a game in Indianapolis in the NCAA Tournament, the second-most of any city (8 games in Charlotte). Tennessee is 2-4 in their previous six games in Indy. They went 1-1 in Indianapolis in 1982, 0-1 in 2014 (in the Sweet Sixteen), 0-1 in 2021, and 1-1 in 2022.
22.2%
A lot of the following stats are going to be centered around three-point shooting because that aspect has played a huge role in the two previous meetings between these two teams this season. For example: The Vols combined to shoot just 22.2% from three in their two losses to Kentucky this season. Tennessee shot 11-of-45 from three in Knoxville and 3-of-18 in Lexington, going 14-of-63 in total.
In all other games this season, Tennessee has shot 35.4% from three.
50%
On the other hand, Kentucky shot a blistering 50% from three in their two wins over the Vols. They went 12-of-24 from three in both games against Tennessee. In all their other games this season, the Wildcats are shooting 36.8% from three.
42%
So far in the NCAA Tournament, Tennessee’s three-point shooting has looked nothing like it did when they’ve played Kentucky. The Vols are making 42% of their threes in the NCAAT, going a combined 21-of-50 from three in two games. Kentucky is shooting slightly above their season average from three in the tournament, connecting on 38.3% of their threes.
10
When Kentucky hits 10 or more three-pointers in a game this season, they’re 16-3. When they make fewer than double-digit three-pointers, they’re a mere 8-8.
5%
Here’s a weird but true stat for you: When Kentucky’s three-point percentage is at least 5% better than their opponent’s three-point shooting percentage, the Wildcats are 19-0 this season. When a team shoots within 4.3% of Kentucky’s three-point percentage or shoots better than them from three, the Wildcats are 5-11.
34%
For Tennessee, 34% seems to be the magic mark for three-point shooting this season. When the Vols make at least 34% of their threes in a game, they’re 19-2. Five of Tennessee’s seven losses this season have come when they’ve shot worse than 31% from three. In fact, if you want to get even more specific, Tennessee is actually 29-3 this season if they make at least 25% of their threes. They’re 0-4 when shooting worse than that, which includes both their losses to Kentucky.
3
When Koby Brea connects on three or more three-pointers in a game, Kentucky is 14-2. They’re just 10-9 this season if he fails to make at least three threes.
72
I mentioned last week that 72 is the magic number for Tennessee. The Vols are 26-1 this season when they hold an opponent to 72 or fewer points, and they’ve only allowed opponents to score more than 72 points nine times all season. Kentucky owns two of those instances, of course.
Speaking of the Wildcats, they’re winless this season when being held under 72 points, going 0-5 so far when they have. They’ve only been held to that low of a point total five times all season, but they’ve scored less than 80 points in two of their last three games (70 in a loss to Alabama, 76 in a win over Troy).
18
I will keep repeating this stat until it doesn’t hold true any longer: The Vols are undefeated when Chaz Lanier scores 18 or more points. He’s done so in both NCAA Tournament games so far, and Tennessee is now 21-0 when he drops at least 18 points in a game. Notably, Lanier scored just 10 and 15 points in his two games against Kentucky earlier this season.
1,533
Zakai Zeigler is the proud owner of several season and career records as a Vol. He won’t break Tennessee’s all-time scoring record, but he does have a chance to pass a former teammate on the all-time scoring list. Zeigler enters Friday’s game with 1,533 career points. He needs eight more points to pass former teammate Santiago Vescovi for 18th place in Tennessee’s career scoring list. Next up would be Ron Slay (1,569) and Admiral Schofield (1,570).
