Tennessee’s senior trio of Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier, and Jordan Gainey combined for 51 points in a 78-65 win over Kentucky in the Sweet 16 on Friday night in Indianapolis. The Vols’ win sets them up with a date with Houston in the Elite Eight while Kentucky’s inaugural season under head coach Mark Pope comes to a close.
Rick Barnes’s squad played a complete game on Friday night. The Vols set the tone with strong defensive stands early on and found answers for Kentucky’s offense early in the second half. Tennessee’s production ended up giving the Vols a double-digit lead for the majority of the game.
While Tennessee’s game didn’t feature a ton of “madness” in Indy, social media still had plenty to say about UT’s impressive performance. Some users talked about what the Vols did well on the court, while others, unsurprisingly, homed in on the rivalry angle. Kentucky had won both regular-season games leading up to Tennessee’s Sweet 16 win in Lucas Oil Stadium.
More from RTI: Tennessee Basketball’s ‘Mentality Switch’ The Difference In Sweet 16 Win Over Kentucky
Check out some of the reactions from social media after the game below:
FINAL in INDIANAPOLIS – #MarchMadness #Sweet16
(3) Kentucky: 65
(2) Tennessee: 78The Vols ADVANCE to the Elite Eight by beating Kentucky in Lucas Oil Stadium
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) March 29, 2025
Felix Okpara was a man tonight for Tennessee.
8 points, 11 rebounds and a block while staying out of foul trouble. Solid defense on Amari Williams.
— Ryan Schumpert (@rschump00) March 29, 2025
If you were to make an ad for Tennessee under Rick Barnes, tonight’s game is it: Vols punched Kentucky with a haymaker and took total control. Held a UK team that averages 26 attempted 3s per game to 6/15. Zeigler with 18 + 10 assists. Up 10 on glass + 19-5 in second chance pts.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 29, 2025
Tennessee has held its last two opponents — Kentucky and UCLA — to an average of 61.5 PPG.
Back-to-back Elite Eights for the Vols under Rick Barnes.
And Jahmai Mashack?
The toughest player in college basketball.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 29, 2025
Go @Vol_Hoops @OleMissMBB pic.twitter.com/5BgC9L805r
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) March 29, 2025
Heard there was a watch party tonight
. pic.twitter.com/WlimFNV3C0
— Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) March 29, 2025
The loudest Kentucky fans have gotten tonight was because their cheerleaders won a contest held during commercial break
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) March 29, 2025
A familiar face at Lucas Oil Stadium enjoying some Sweet 16 action
Peyton Manning supporting his alma mater Tennessee in the stands
#MarchMadness @Vol_Hoops pic.twitter.com/ffC6jw4xkb
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 29, 2025
— KSR (@KSRonX) March 29, 2025
Kentucky getting cooked! lol
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) March 29, 2025
Rick Barnes
— TJ Ford (@tj_ford) March 29, 2025
TENNESSEE KEEPS DANCING
The Vols are headed to the Elite Eight for the second straight year after previously having been to just one
pic.twitter.com/fbS4B3jVR2
— ESPN (@espn) March 29, 2025
Final:
Kentucky 65
Tennessee 78Fantastic gameplan by Rick Barnes and his staff. Elite performance from the Vols executing it. Rebounds, points in the paint, perimeter defense… patiently aggressive and efficient on offense. Dominant start to finish.
On to the Elite 8. #GBO
— Christopher Gabriel (@CGProgram) March 29, 2025
It’s been all Tennessee tonight pic.twitter.com/YVausH4I8u
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 29, 2025
Told y’all all week. And The Vols took that personal!!! THAT’S ALL WE KNOW!!!! GO VOLS!!! #ELITE pic.twitter.com/YWLiHD6R0b
— Ron Slay (@TheRonSlay) March 29, 2025
Great adjustment by @Vol_Hoops coach Rick Barnes the third time in playing Kentucky. They were not heavy in the gaps like they have been all year. Back to back Elite 8’s by Vols. UK only 15 3point attempts for game
— Jimmy Dykes (@CoachJimmyDykes) March 29, 2025
Kentucky just has never really been in this game. Vols have had more energy and toughness from moment one
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) March 29, 2025
Shouldn’t have poked the bear
— Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) March 29, 2025
DUBAR pic.twitter.com/YFF5JT1061
— DRVawl (@DRVawl) March 28, 2025
Zakai Zeigler is the only player in Tennessee history with:
2 Elite 8s (2024-25)
3 Sweet 16s (2023-25)
SEC Tournament Title (2022)
SEC Regular Season Title (2024)
2x SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2024-25)
3rd Team All-American (2025)
2x First Team All SEC (2024-25)— Travis Cabage (@Travis_Cabage) March 29, 2025
Kentucky, forever this pic.twitter.com/SqBjH3tvKV
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) March 29, 2025
This is only the 3rd time in program history the Vols have won 30+ games.
Rick Barnes is responsible for 2 of them.
This is only the 3rd Elite Eight trip in program history.
Rick Barnes is responsible for 2 of them.
Zero doubt who the best UT hoops coach in modern history is. pic.twitter.com/WP1L0g2YpF
— Nathanael Rutherford (@Mr_Rutherford) March 29, 2025
Just embarrassing
— Barstool Kentucky (@BarstoolUK) March 29, 2025
The perfect photo doesn’t exi pic.twitter.com/PvKqMlzuYC
— V͎O͎L͎d͎e͎m͎o͎r͎t͎ (@vo_ldemort) March 29, 2025
Live look at what Tennessee is doing to Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/qXDfkgaBAZ
— Barrett Sallee
(@BarrettSallee) March 29, 2025
Elite 8 berth and dominant win over Kensucky
Win over #2 Softball team in the nation
Defending national champs doing what they do
What a night to be a Tennessee Vol. pic.twitter.com/riu78Io8uX
— Barstool Rocky Top (@BarstoolTenn) March 29, 2025
The biggest game in the history of the Tennessee/Kentucky rivalry was absolutely dominated by @Vol_Hoops.
DOMINATED. pic.twitter.com/aw3KgDipaN
— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagi) March 29, 2025
The Tennessee bench just yelled “OMAHA” before that defensive sequence.
Peyton Manning is smiling behind the bench.
— Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson) March 29, 2025
In Other Tennessee Sports News…
took the opener! pic.twitter.com/J7gbWdwIIv
— Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball) March 29, 2025
FINAL: Tennessee 11, South Carolina 7
A five-run second and four-run fifth highlight a high-scoring series-opening win.#Vols will look to clinch the series Saturday in Columbia at 4 p.m. ET (SECN+).
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) March 29, 2025
March Madness
pic.twitter.com/aZLonnASAb
— Tennessee Women’s Tennis (@Vol_WTennis) March 29, 2025
