Tennessee’s win over UCLA on Saturday in Rupp Arena sets up a first in the 115-year border rivalry between the Volunteers and Kentucky if UK can beat Illinois in Milwaukee on Sunday.

Kentucky and Tennessee have played 241 times since first meeting in 1910 but have never met in the NCAA Tournament. That would change this week if No. 3 seed Kentucky advances to the Sweet 16, where No. 2 seed Tennessee has already earned a spot in the Midwest Regional semifinals in Indianapolis.

Prior to 1975, only one team per conference was awarded a bid to the NCAA Tournament, but even since the NCAA began allowing multiple teams per conference in the tournament, the bracketing procedure has been designed to avoid rematches for as long as possible. That was more difficult this year with a record 14 SEC teams awarded bids.

Kentucky has played an SEC rival in the NCAA Tournament only three times (Alabama, Auburn and LSU), and none more than once. The Wildcats also played current SEC member Arkansas before the Razorbacks joined the league in the 1978 tournament. UK’s most recent tournament game against an SEC foe was the Elite Eight loss to Auburn in 2019.

Chaz Lanier (2) scored 20 points to lead Tennessee past UCLA and into a possible rematch with Kentucky this week. Aaron Doster USA TODAY NETWORK

The Wildcats hold a 163-78 advantage in the all-time series against Tennessee and won both regular season matchups with the Volunteers this season. Still, Tennessee figures to be the favorite in Indianapolis if Kentucky can beat No. 6 seed Illinois on Sunday.

UK’s two regular season wins over Tennessee came over a two-week span from Jan. 28 to Feb. 11.

Kentucky won the first game with point guard Lamont Butler sidelined. It won the second game with sharpshooting guard Jaxson Robinson unavailable. Butler also reinjured his shoulder in the second meeting with 8:40 left in the second half and did not return.

Robinson is now out for the season with a hand injury, but Butler, who has missed games due to injury four different times this season, is available again after playing in the NCAA Tournament opening win over Troy. He did not score against Troy, but Kentucky outscored the Trojans by 22 points during his 25 minutes on the court.

Forward Andrew Carr, who played less than 2 minutes in the first game against Tennessee and came off the bench in the second game as he was still working his way back into form due to a back injury has shined for the Wildcats of late.

Tennessee is 9-2 since its last lost to Kentucky. UK is 6-4 since that game.

Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack celebrates as the Volunteers put away UCLA in Rupp Arena on Saturday night to advance to this week’s NCAA Sweet 16. Mark Mahan

Tennessee’s Felix Okpara (34) had four points and seven rebounds in the Volunteers’ win over UCLA on Saturday night in Rupp Arena. Mark Mahan

This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 9:36 AM.