Kentucky defeated Illinois 84-75 to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, with Koby Brea leading the Wildcats with a career-high 23 points. This marks the first time the team has advanced past the opening weekend since 2019. The Wildcats, seeded No. 3 in the Midwest Region, will face SEC rival Tennessee next. Mark Pope, in his first season at Kentucky, achieved his first NCAA Tournament victory after taking over from John Calipari. Calipari also advanced to the Sweet 16 with Arkansas upsetting St. John’s. Illinois, favored to win based on their performance in the first round, fell short as turnovers cost them the game. Despite a late push, they couldn’t catch up to Kentucky. The Wildcats showcased their depth and will now face Tennessee, a team they have already beaten twice this season. The upcoming matchup promises to be an intense showdown between the two SEC rivals.
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