Kentucky and Tennessee are set to add a new chapter to their rivalry on Friday night as they face off in Indianapolis for the first time in the March Madness.
This NCAA Tournament matchup holds more significance but brings similar emotions.
Tennessee guards Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack discussed how much they dislike the Wildcats during Thursday’s press conference. Kentucky guard Koby Brea, on the other hand, expects the second-seeded Volunteers to make some adjustments after the Wildcats beat them twice this season.
The passionate fan bases from both Southeastern Conference teams expect nothing less.
“I’m big on rivalries. When I don’t like a school, I don’t like it and I want to do everything I can to make sure we win that game,” Mashack said. “I’m taking this as serious as I possibly can, and everybody knows, we want nothing more than to not just win but make a statement with a team like this.”
With a spot in the Elite Eight at stake, they will face one of college basketball’s most successful programs.
The third-seeded Wildcats (24-11) hold records for the most March Madness games (187) and tournament bids (62). They’re also in the top five for tournament wins (132), Final Four appearances (17), and national championships (eight).
A win over the Vols (29-7) would send Kentucky to its 35th regional final in its first season under coach Mark Pope, where they will face either top-seeded Houston or fourth-seeded Purdue for the Midwest Region title on Sunday in Indianapolis.
“They’ve been a really good defensive team, but I feel we’ve seen their defense a couple times this year, teams that do similar things. So we kind of just do what we do every game,” Brea said. “I’m sure they’ll probably try to change things up a little bit since the first two times didn’t work out too well.”
Kentucky has struggled in recent trips to Indianapolis. In 2022, the Wildcats lost in the first round to Saint Peter’s, and in 2015, Wisconsin ended their perfect season in the national semifinals.
This time could be different
Brea helped Kentucky make 12 of 24 3-pointers — twice — against Tennessee, which has the nation’s third-best 3-point shooting defense (28.3%).
If the Vols find a way to adjust, they could reach their second straight Elite Eight by defeating their rival.
“We know we’re the best defense in the country. We didn’t show that either time we played them,” Zeigler said. “Just being ourselves on defense, going out there, showing we’re the No. 1 defense in the country and doing all the little things and everything then we’ll be fine. I don’t feel we did that in either game. We’ll make sure to do better this time.”
Feels like home for Pope
Pope feels at home in Indiana. He was a 1996 second-round draft pick of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and played parts of two seasons under coach Larry Bird and alongside Reggie Miller. Both teams reached the Eastern Conference finals.
Despite playing just 32 games with Indiana, Pope met his wife, Lee Anne, in Indy.
“Come on, I’m the most blessed human being in the world that I got to be here on those great Indiana Pacers teams in this tremendous city, playing for Larry Bird and Rick Carlisle and the whole crew. I’ll never forget it,” Pope said.
A memorable return for Cryer
Houston guard L.J. Cryer played only three minutes as a freshman in the 2021 Final Four with national champion Baylor. That year, the entire tournament was held in Indiana because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cryer is familiar with the setting at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, which is transformed into a massive basketball arena.
“I think we got the same locker room as that year,” Cryer said. “When I walked in there today, I kind of got the chills a little bit. A lot of good mojo for sure.”
Cryer left Baylor after three seasons and has become one of Houston’s top offensive players. He’s averaging more than 15 points over 73 games.
Changing times at Purdue
Purdue coach Matt Painter has focused on player development and experienced rosters, leading the Boilermakers (24-11) to six Sweet 16 appearances in the last eight tournaments.
However, Painter suggested that could change soon. He hinted that the Boilermakers might be more active in the transfer portal after this season.
“We’ve taken two people out of the portal in four years, probably the fewest amount in the country,” said Painter, whose team was last year’s national runner-up. “It will be interesting to see where we go from here, though, because there’s no doubt that we’re going to use the portal. We’re probably just not going to use it as much as everybody else.”
Tennessee’s coach not retiring anytime soon
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes, 70, put any rumors of his retirement to rest. He said he’s not stepping down next season.
“I think God will make it perfectly clear when he wants me to step down and my time will be up,” Barnes said. “But it’s not now. If it is, I don’t feel that. But I love coaching basketball. I love being around it.”
Barnes is 231-108 in 10 seasons at Tennessee and 835-422 in 38 years as a head coach, including stints at George Mason, Providence, Clemson, and Texas.
