March Madness: Kentucky Achieves Long-Awaited Milestone With Sweet Sixteen Clinch
March 24, 2025
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The Kentucky Wildcats will finally play in the second weekend of March Madness after their Round of 32 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Kentucky will advance to the Sweet 16 with their win on Sunday. It will be their first appearance in the Sweet 16 since 2019. The Wildcats will face their SEC rivals, the No. 2 seed Tennessee Volunteers, on Friday for a chance to play in the Elite Eight at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
It may not be a big deal for Kentucky, who is used to winning every year, but this is a cause for celebration, considering the abrupt endings that the Wildcats have endured in the past four tournaments.
Koby Brea #4 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Fiserv Forum on March 23, 2025… Koby Brea #4 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Fiserv Forum on March 23, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Head coach Mark Pope is responsible for leading his alma mater to the third round of the tournament. Pope and the Wildcats are also an inch closer to their ninth title in school history.
The last time the Wildcats were in the Sweet 16, they were led by coach John Calipari. As always, his teams were filled with star power, featuring P.J. Washington, Tyler Herro, Keldon Johnson, Immanuel Quickley, and Nick Richards.
Kentucky leads all schools with 46 total Sweet 16 appearances.
Kentucky was the No. 2 seed that season, and they cruised past Abilene Christian in the first round and outlasted No. 7 Wofford in the second Round. In the next round, the Wildcats faced No. 3 seed Houston in the Sweet 16 and came out on top. They wound up losing to their SEC rival, the No. 5 seed Auburn Tigers, in the Elite Eight.
The Wildcats did all they could and then some to get over that hump finally. Kentucky beat the Fighting Illini by the final score of 84-75. Kentucky was in front for more than 37 minutes of the 40-minute game.
Wildcats guard Koby Brea set the tone, and he set it early. He accounted for Kentucky’s first four points and finished the game with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting, along with six rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 36 minutes of action.
Kentucky is now three wins away from playing in the National Championship game, which would be their first time competing in it since 2012. That year is also the season they won their last title.
The time for their matchup in the Sweet 16 against Tennesse on Friday has yet to be announced.
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For more on NCAA and basketball, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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