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Kentucky beats Illinois 84-75 for first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019

On Sunday, March 23, 2025, Kentucky, a 2 seed with a 24-11 record, defeated Illinois 84-75 to advance to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
Kentucky's victory marks their first Sweet 16 appearance since reaching the Elite Eight in 2019, breaking a drought and signifying a step forward for the program.
Koby Brea, a fifth-year senior who transferred from Dayton, had a career-high 23 points, shooting 10 of 16 from the floor, while Otega Oweh added 15 points and Lamont Butler contributed 14 for Kentucky.
Illinois, the sixth-seeded team with a 22-13 record, trailed by 12 early but only trailed 37-32 at the half, ultimately shooting just 28.1% from 3-point range, a significant drop from their 40% against Xavier, and could not close the gap after getting within 74-68 with 1:36 remaining.
Kentucky, now coached by Mark Pope in his first season after John Calipari's departure for Arkansas, will face Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee in Indianapolis on Friday, a team they have already defeated twice this season, while both Pope and Calipari have reached the Sweet 16.

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