Hoops Central: #6 [2] Tennessee vs. #18 [3] Kentucky

INDIANAPOLIS – Having reached the Sweet Sixteen for the third consecutive season, a program first, the sixth-ranked, second-seeded Tennessee men’s basketball team is set to face No. 18/21, third-seeded Kentucky Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Tipoff is slated for 7:39 p.m. ET.

Fans can catch Friday’s game between the Volunteers (29-7) and Wildcats (24-11) on TBS/truTV. Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst) and Evan Washburn (reporter) will have the call.

Fans can also listen live on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp describing the action beginning with Radio Greeneville’s Bobby Rader and the Vol Tip Off Show at 7pm from 103.1FM WIKQ.

In its most recent action, Tennessee defeated seventh-seeded UCLA, 67-58, Saturday night at Rupp Arena.

UT led for the final 22-plus minutes in its first-ever victory over the Bruins, extending its margin as high as 19 in a commanding decision. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier, who set a new program single-season record for made 3-pointers, led all scorers with 20 points.

THE MATCHUP
• The Volunteers’ 78 victories over the Wildcats lead all teams. Vanderbilt is second with 50.
• Tennessee’s 11 wins over Kentucky in Rick Barnes‘ tenure (2015-25) are four more than any other team. That includes a 10-8 record against ranked Wildcat teams, good for twice as many such wins as anyone else. The Vols have defeated Kentucky at least once in eight of his 10 years and are 6-7 away from home.
• In the 22 seasons before Barnes’ arrival (1993-2015), UT went 9-35 against Kentucky, including 7-28 when the Wildcats were ranked.
• Barnes’ 12 wins over the Wildcats rank seventh all-time, one shy of Dean Smith (13) and the most of any active coach.
• This is the seventh consecutive series meeting with Tennessee ranked above Kentucky. Its prior high was four (2/1/00 to 2/14/01).
• The Wildcats, who tied for sixth in the SEC, are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.
• Junior guard Otega Oweh, a Second Team All-SEC honoree, leads Kentucky with 16.3 ppg.

NEWS & NOTES
• UT’s 27 all-time NCAA Tournament teams are a combined 28-30 (3-2 at neutral sites) versus Kentucky.
• The Vols have never previously played a fellow SEC team in the NCAA Tournament. They fell at Vanderbilt, 89-85, in the 1980 NIT.
• Tennessee is one of just three schools in the Sweet 16 for at least the third straight year, alongside Alabama and Houston.
• This is UT’s eighth Sweet 16 trip since 2006-07, tied for eighth- most in that time. More on Page 5.
• Tennessee, Duke, Maryland and Ole Miss are the lone four schools in the men’s and women’s Sweet 16. UT is the only one that also made the College Football Playoff.
• The Vols are 30-27 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including 11-6 under Rick Barnes, who has the most such wins in program history. More on Pages 10-11.
• Tennessee is looking to reach the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight year. It would be the first such instance in program history.
• The Vols are playing a 37th game for the fifth time, alongside 1984- 85, 2009-10, 2013-14 and 2018-19.
• With 835 wins, Rick Barnes is tied with John Calipari for ninth all- time (min. 10 years in DI) and for the most among active coaches.
• Zakai Zeigler’s 260 assists match the SEC single-season record set by Ole Miss’ Sean Tuohy in 1979- 80. His 732 career assists are a program record and the third- most in SEC history.
• Chaz Lanier, in just two outings, is already one of only eight Vols with multiple 20-point showings in NCAA Tournament play. His 29 points in his debut are the most by a UT player in an NCAA victory.
• Lanier’s 120 made 3-pointers this year are a UT single-season record and the sixth-most in a single campaign in SEC history.
• Tennessee’s 200 wins over the last eight seasons (2017-25) rank co-sixth in DI, alongside Auburn, Liberty and Saint Mary’s. Only Houston (240), Gonzaga (239), Duke (218), Kansas (212) and Purdue (206) own more.
• The Vols, who had 25 regular season victories for the third time, are seeking a third 30-win year (31-6 in 2018-19, 31-5 in 2007-08).