Kentucky is playing a bitter rival as an underdog in Lucas Oil Stadium in the Sweet 16. Eleven years ago, Big Blue Nation was in the same situation. The Cats prevailed with a victory over Louisville. Tonight would be a great night for history to repeat when the Wildcats take on the Tennessee Volunteers.

Kentucky has played Tennessee 242 times, more than any other opponent, and yet this is the first time the two have ever faced off in the NCAA Tournament. The Vols have never been to a Final Four, but Rick Barnes had Tennessee in the Elite Eight a year ago with many of the same players who took Tennessee to the SEC Tournament Title game a few weeks ago.

Mark Pope checked a lot of boxes during his first season at Kentucky. Beating Tennessee twice was a big one.  which does not put Kentucky in unfamiliar territory tonight. Kentucky shot 50% from the field and knocked down 12-24 threes in the first two wins.

Is Kentucky a bad matchup for their border rival, or will a top-five Tennessee team seize the moment en route to the program’s first-ever Final Four? The stakes could not be higher when the two teams take the floor in the opening matchup of the Midwest Regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.

[3] Kentucky vs. [2] Tennessee: How to Watch, Listen

• Date, Time: Friday, 7:39 p.m. EST
• Television: TBS or truTV (Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn)
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Satellite Radio: 209 or 202

You can also follow the game via our new LIVE BLOG on the website, which will begin an hour before tip-off, or join the conversation on KSBoard.

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Gambling Trends

Kentucky is a 4.5-point underdog against Tennessee with a total of 144.5. As you’re well aware by now, the Cats won the first two regular season games outright as underdogs. Tennessee has lost in the NCAA Tournament five times to lower-seeded teams in six appearances under Barnes.

Kentucky is 5-0-1 ATS in its last six games as a dog in the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee is 5-10 ATS as a favorite in the NCAA Tournament under Barnes with five outright losses. Kentucky is 8-3 Against the Spread (ATS) this season as an underdog with seven outright wins.

Kentucky Not Worried About Football Stadium Shooting

There are so many storylines to pick apart ahead of this matchup, that it’s hard to hone in on just one. However, many are gravitating to tonight’s setting, a football stadium. Kentucky shot the lights out in the first two wins over Tennessee. The Cats’ best shooters are downplaying the significance of the sight lines.

“I don’t really think it changes anything. I always say if the ball is round and the rim is a circle, then I think it’s all the same thing. Just excited to get out there and play,” said Koby Brea.

“I mean, at the end of the day, it’s still a 10-foot hoop and you still have a little orange basketball that you’re trying to put through it,” Trent Noah added.

Zakai Zeigler Provided Bulletin Board Material

Tennessee’s veteran point guard was spotted flipping off the UK logo after the Vols walked through the Lexington Regional. Jack Pilgrim asked some of the Cats about Zakai Zeigler‘s middle finger.

More from the Pregame Press Conferences

The Cats and the Vols had a lot to say before their third game of the season. KSR had wall-to-wall coverage from the pregame festivities in Indianapolis.