Kentucky won the first two meetings this season, but Tennessee won the third and most important one, and now the Volunteers are rewarded with a trip to the Elite Eight of the men’s NCAA Tournament.
No. 2 seeded Tennessee finally got the best of No. 3 seeded Kentucky as a hot first half propelled the Volunteers past the Wildcats 78-65 for the win in the Sweet 16. Tennessee led nearly the entire contest, and the lead was in double-digits for the entire second half. Zakai Zeigler has been the leader for Tennessee all season, and the 5-foot-9-inch guard did it again Friday night with 18 points and nine assists.
Tennessee now heads to its second consecutive Elite Eight, and Rick Barnes’ team will have another chance to get the program’s first Final Four trip.
USA TODAY Sports followed the top moments from Friday’s game:
Kentucky vs. Tennessee men’s basketball score
Tennessee wins 78-65. Kentucky’s offense has improved, but Tennessee continued to knock down shots to maintain a big lead.
Zakai Ziegler led all scorers with 18 points, while Tennessee teammate Chaz Lanier added 17 points. Jordan Gainey also has 16 points. Kentucky’s leading scorer was Lamont Butler with 18 points.
Tennessee vs. Kentucky highlights
No. 2 seed Tennessee beat No. 3 seed Kentucky 78-65. Watch the video for best action from the game.
Zakai Zeigler points today
Ziegler leads Tennessee with a game-high 18 points. He also has nine assists and a rebound. He set the single-season SEC record with his dimes Friday.
Amari Williams points today
Williams has 11 points for Kentucky. He was much of the Wildcat offense in the first half, and teammate Lamont Butler has 15 points.
Quick sequence extends Tennessee lead
Tennessee scored five points in seven seconds. After a Felix Okpara dunk, Chaz Lanier stole the pass and gave it to Zeigler, who knocked down a 3-pointer. The Tennessee crowd went crazy and Kentucky coach Mark Pope called a timeout.
Chaz Lanier taking over in second half
After a quiet first half with six points, Lanier has found a rhythm in the second half to keep the Volunteers in front. He is 4-for-7 from the field out of halftime and now has 15 points.
Andrew Carr with big slam
Kentucky is trying to cut the deficit and Carr is doing his part. He had a major dunk early in the second half.
Kentucky vs. Tennessee halftime score
Tennessee leads 43-28 at halftime. The Volunteer offense shook off a slow start and were on fire for a majority of the first half, getting offensive rebounds to convert into second-chance points while Kentucky struggled to get buckets. Tennessee led by as many as 19 points, but the Wildcats cut the deficit before the end of the half.
Tennessee run extends lead
The Volunteers are clicking with an 8-0 run to take a commanding 19-point lead with just under three minutes left in the first half. Meanwhile, Kentucky has missed its last seven shot attempts and hasn’t scored in more than three minutes.
How tall is Zakai Zeigler?
Zeigler is 5-foot-9-inches, the shortest player on Tennessee.
Tennessee controlling rebounds
The early lead for Tennessee can be attributed to the early dominance on the boards. Tennessee is out rebounding Kentucky 13-6 so far. Six of Tennessee’s rebounds have come on the offensive end, leading to nine second-chance points.
3-pointers give Tennessee early lead
The 3-point shot is working for Tennessee with three buckets from downtown to fuel a 10-3 run. Tennessee took a 10 point lead eight minutes into the game.
Peyton Manning at Tennessee Sweet 16 game
Rocky Top royalty is inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Super Bowl-winning quarterback and former Volunteer Peyton Manning was shown on the broadcast.
Tennesse vs. Kentucky underway
The first NCAA Tournament game between the Wildcats and Volunteers has tipped off. After both teams went scoreless in the first 90 seconds, Volunteers forward Igor Milicic Jr. hit two free throws to get the scoring started.
Tennessee starting lineup
Chaz Lanier, G
Zakai Zeigler, G
Jahmai Mashack, G
Igor Milicic Jr., F
Felix Okpara, C
Kentucky starting lineup
Otega Oweh, G
Lamont Butler, G
Koby Brea, G
Andrew Carr, F
Amari Williams, F
What time is Kentucky vs. Tennessee basketball today?
March Madness continues Friday with the Sweet 16 matchup between the No. 3 seeded Kentucky Wildcats and the No. 2 seeded Tennessee Volunteers. The action kicks off at 7:39 p.m. ET
Where to watch Kentucky vs. Tennessee: TV, streaming coverage
TV channels: TBS and TruTV
Live stream: Max and Sling
Watch March Madness with Sling
What channel is March Madness on?
Men’s NCAA Tournament games will be broadcast across CBS, TBS, and TruTV channels. You can also watch Sweet 16 action via these streaming options: Max and Sling for games carried on TNT, TBS, TruTV. Games carried on CBS are available on Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription to new users.
Watch March Madness games on CBS with Fubo
Kentucky vs. Tennessee odds and betting line
The Tennessee Volunteers are favorites to beat the Kentucky Wildcats, according to BetMGM odds as of Friday, March 28.
Spread: Tennessee (-4.5)
Moneyline: Tennessee (-210); Kentucky (+170)
O/U: 144.5
Kentucky vs. Tennessee predictions and picks
Jeremy Cluff: Tennessee 75, Kentucky 73
Craig Meyer: Kentucky 70, Tennessee 66
Mike Wilson: Tennessee 76, Kentucky 68
Ryan Black: Tennessee 82, Kentucky 78
Three of our four experts are expecting Tennessee to continue dancing into the Elite Eight. Only USA TODAY’s Craig Meyer is predicting Kentucky to win and advance. However, AZ Central’s Jeremy Cluff and Louisville Courier Journal’s Ryan Black are both taking Kentucky to cover the 4.5-point spread. That leaves Knoxville News Sentinel’s Mike Wilson as the lone wolf laying the points with the Volunteers. Meyer and Wilson are taking the under 144.5-point total, while Cluff and Black are on the over. — Nick Brinkerhoff
Kentucky vs. Tennessee all-time head-to-head record, history
The Kentucky Wildcats hold a 163-78 series record over the Tennessee Volunteers. The most recent matchup saw Kentucky beat Tennessee 75-64 on Feb. 11, 2025.
Kentucky Wildcats national championships
The Kentucky Wildcats have won eight national championships, with their most recent coming in 2012. They have appeared in the finals 12 times and the Final Four 17 times.
Have the Tennessee Volunteers won a national championship?
The Tennessee Volunteers have never won a men’s national championship. They have advanced as far as the Elite Eight twice (2010, 2024). The program also claims 11 Sweet 16 appearances.
March Madness championship odds
Odds to win the men’s NCAA national championship, according to BetMGM odds as of Friday, March 28. Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the men’s tournament:
Duke (+180)
Florida (+275)
Houston (+550)
Auburn (+575)
Alabama (+1200)
Tennessee (+2000)
Texas Tech (+2200)
Michigan State (+2500)
Kentucky (+8000)
Michigan (+9000)
Ole Miss (+10000)
Purdue (+12500)
Tennessee looks primed for win over Kentucky
Both teams have looked great so far in the tournament, but Tennessee’s defense appears to have reached another gear in hopes of clinching its first Final Four spot. As for Kentucky, it’s hard to beat a team twice, but it’s a greater challenge to do it three times in one season. The Volunteers’ defense tightens up and finally gets the best of Kentucky to advance to the Elite Eight. — Jordan Mendoza
March Madness 2025 expert predictions
USA TODAY experts set their predictions ahead of the men’s NCAA Tournament. Here is who they picked before the madness.
Jordan Mendoza
Full bracket
Final Four: Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Houston
National champion: Houston
Paul Myerberg
Full bracket
Final Four: Auburn, St. John’s, Duke, Tennessee
Final: Auburn vs. Duke
National champion: Duke
Eddie Timanus
Full bracket
Final Four: Auburn, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Duke
National champion: Florida
Dan Wolken
Full bracket
Final Four: Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Houston
Final: Florida vs. Duke
National champion: Duke
When does the Final Four start?
On the men’s side, the Final Four is scheduled for Saturday, April 5. The NCAA championship game will take place two days later on Monday, April 7.All games will played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
For the women, the Final Four will be played on Friday, April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The championship game will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at the same venue.