This has been one of the most fun and engaging seasons in the last decade. It ended earlier than any of us wanted. To Lamont, Koby, Carr, Ansley, and Amari, you all came in as a different type of one and done and played your asses of all year. I hate that Kerr and Jaxson couldn't go out there and compete and their season ended early. I'm glad to have this feeling about UK basketball again. I'm upset about the ending buy I'm excited for the future.

I'm not going to let a horrible 40 minutes make me forget about this season. Pope understands the assignment and he will win a title here. Keeping the faith.

KENTUCKY MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
NCAA TOURNAMENT | LUCAS OIL STADIUM | INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
MARCH 28, 2025
ATTENDANCE: announced at halftime of the second game of the session

FINAL SCORE: No. 6 Tennessee 78, No. 18/21 Kentucky 65

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky is 24-12 overall and Tennessee is 30-7.
• Kentucky leads the series, 163-79, ending a three-game winning streak vs. Tennessee.
  • This was the teams’ first matchup in the NCAA Tournament.
• Mark Pope is 211-120 as head coach, including 24-12 at Kentucky.

Kentucky and Coach Mark Pope in the NCAA Tournament

• Kentucky is now 132-56 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• Kentucky holds NCAA records for most tournament appearances (62) and most games played (188). UK is second for most victories (132) and fourth in winning percentage (.702, 132-56, min. 20 tournament games).
• UK is 8-5 as a No. 3 seed in the tournament since seedings began in 1980.
• Coach Mark Pope is now 2-3 in the NCAA Tournament, 2-1 at Kentucky.

Team Notes

• Second-chance points were key tonight as Tennessee led 19-5 in that category.
• With six 3-pointers tonight, UK now has 341 triples this season, breaking the school record for most in a season. The 1992-93 team held the record with 340 made 3-pointers.

Player Notes

• Lamont Butler led the team in points (18), rebounds (six) and tied for the team in assists with three.
  • It was his first back-to-back double-figure scoring games since Jan. 7 and 11.
  • Six rebounds tied his season high.
• Amari Williams collected 14 points, his 21st double-figure game of the season.
• Otega Oweh had 13 points, his 33rd double-figure game of the season.

In the First Half

• Kentucky’s starters were Lamont Butler, Koby Brea, Otega Oweh, Andrew Carr and Amari Williams for the seventh time this season. UK is 5-2 with this lineup.
• First substitutions were Brandon Garrison and Collin Chandler at 16:06.
• Tied at 4, Tennessee went on a 13-3 run and led the remainder of the game.
• Tennessee led by as many as 19 points at 39-20.
• Tennessee led 43-28 at intermission.
  • Williams led Kentucky with nine points.
  • UK is now 3-11 on the year when trailing at the half.

In the Second Half

• Kentucky began the second half with the starters.
• Kentucky got within 12 points at 55-43 and 60-55 but no closer.

Those two teams flat out laid it on the line the entire 40 minutes. Players flying all over the court maximum effort the entire game. So why in the hell do we show up in the sweet 16 and just walk around, don't even bother to block out, watch Tennessee rebound like we don't even give a shit? This is the most disappointed I've been in a while.

Did anyone pick Kentucky to get further than the sweet sixteen?

Happy Friday!

How’s everyone feeling? Confident, nervous, etc?

Anything special to eat, drink today? Watching game at a special place?

Getting any work done?

At least give us a chance man. Massive disappointment to see the team with no fight. Garrison/ Williams are light. We can’t hit layups.

I was listening to Field of 68 the other night. They mentioned something about “Revenue Sharing” starting next year I guess. I understand the concept of revenue sharing. Can someone explain to me how this will affect college sports? Will it level the NIL playing field between schools?

Eat it Seth.
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Now they are my preference to win it.

I obviously don’t want Duke to win. I don’t want one of our SEC teams to get the push of champions
Michigan State would be OK I guess.

Do you believe the wealthy can be psychologically harmed by their wealth and a sense of entitlement? How so? If so, how prevalent do you think that condition exhibits?

Do you believe that people who benefit from entitlement programs can be psychologically harmed by those programs? How so? If so, how prevalent is that condition among those receiving entitlements?

If you believe both have caused harm, can you compare and contrast those harms?

I am curious how people see these things.

LET'S GET IT ON!


******

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This year has been ok and I hope we pull out a miracle. But, Pope needs to get serious about some athletic talent for next year and beyond. We don't need any more slow centers or forwards that can't keep anyone in front of them.

About half an hour til game time. Let’s get the good vibes going!

BLUEEEEEE

This year has been the most satisfying year for me as a fan since we we won the championship in 2012. Of course, we won that year. Who isn't satisfied with winning? When you look at our team this year, I'm not sure we had any reason to make it to the sweet 16. These kids played hard for Pope, and respected him! I haven't got one negative thing to say about the players or coaching this year. I think with the NIL, you need to keep a foundation for success. Hopefully, Oweh, Garrison, Noah, Chandler return. Combine that with the recruits and portal players, next year could be special!

This is absurd company to be in. 3 guys that are arguably the best ever at their respective position.(Big 0 was dropping triple doubles when point guards didn't do those things). With the Thunder averaging 24 years old, and clearly the best team in the NBA, it looks like an awfully bright future. He also might be the best defender in the league.

1st in Defensive Win Shares
3rd in Defensive Rating
Top 10 in OPFG
Top 15 in Contest %
2nd in Steals
Top 5 in Stocks (only guard)

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Anyone else just hate that dude? Smack talking after every single play it seemed like.

I get it we played bad and we probably deserved some of his smack talk...but I hope either Purdue or Houston smack him in the mouth Sunday.

In 33 minutes, had 6 rebounds. The 3 bigs, in 64 minutes of action, combined for 6.

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Givony listing UK first here caught my attention. May mean nothing though.

The Beatles- Back In The USSR.
Bruce Springsteen-Dancing in the Dark
Billy Joel-Uptown Girl.
The Beach Boys-Their entire catalog

The one sung by Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music?

I've been singing Schadenfreude to that tune all morning. 😁

Unless Auburn can beat Michigan.

Wins over:
Duke
Gonzaga
Louisville
Florida
Tennessee (2)
The SEC was never stronger. We were a tough out in year one.

Great job assembling such a competitive team in the last minute.

I am so glad we no longer have to deal with Calipari's BS! I felt like that game was like watching Kentucky for the last 15 years. I was sort of pulling for the SEC. But maybe not!

Pope has alluded to this, but it has to be top priority. They are off to a good start with Kam, but it has to get even better.