Tennessee punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for just the third time in program history with a decisive victory over Kentucky in the Sweet 16. The No. 2 seed Volunteers (30-7) took down the No. 3 seed Wildcats (24-12) with a commanding 78-65 win on Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
With this victory, Tennessee advances to face No. 1 seed Houston (33-4) in the Elite Eight. The highly anticipated matchup is set to take place on Sunday in Indianapolis, with tipoff scheduled for 2:20 p.m. EDT. The game will be nationally televised on CBS as the Volunteers seek their first-ever Final Four appearance.
Here are three key takeaways from Tennessee’s impressive Sweet 16 triumph over Kentucky:
Zakai Zeigler Sets SEC Single-Season Assists Record
Senior guard Zakai Zeigler etched his name into SEC history by setting a new single-season record for assists. The previous mark of 260, set by Sean Tuohy of Ole Miss during the 1979-80 season, was surpassed as Zeigler reached 270 assists for the 2024-25 campaign. He played a crucial role in Tennessee’s offensive flow, tallying 10 assists against Kentucky to further cement his legacy as one of the conference’s all-time best facilitators. The 5-foot-9, 172-pound playmaker has now recorded an impressive 742 assists throughout his Tennessee career, demonstrating his consistency and vision as a floor general.
Record-Breaking Crowd Witnesses Historic Game
A staggering 28,968 fans packed Lucas Oil Stadium to witness the latest chapter in the storied rivalry between Tennessee and Kentucky. This turnout marked the second-largest crowd ever to watch a Tennessee basketball game. The only larger audience came during the Volunteers’ NCAA Tournament matchup against Michigan on March 28, 2014, when 41,072 fans filled the same venue. The immense support from the crowd underscored the significance of this game and the excitement surrounding Tennessee’s deep tournament run.
Rick Barnes Continues Dominance Over Kentucky
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes has consistently had success against Kentucky throughout his tenure in Knoxville. With this victory, Barnes has now defeated the Wildcats at least once in nine of his 10 seasons leading the Volunteers. His experience and leadership have translated well in March, as he now holds a 33-28 record in NCAA Tournament games. Among active Division I head coaches, Barnes ranks sixth in total victories and stands as the second-winningest coach in the SEC. His ability to guide Tennessee through high-pressure moments has positioned the program as a perennial contender in college basketball.
With momentum on their side, the Volunteers now turn their focus to their next challenge—taking down Houston and making history with their first-ever Final Four appearance.
