On Friday, March 28th, the Kentucky Wildcats will look to reach their first Elite Eight since the 2018-19 season. However, of all teams to stand in the Cats’ way, the rival Tennesee Volunteers.

These two squads have faced off twice this season, where Kentucky won both of its matchups on Jan. 28 and Feb. 11.

Lamont Butler, who was absent from the Jan. 28 game where the Wildcats defeated the Volunteers 78-73 in Knoxville, took the podium with teammates Amari Williams and Koby Brea to talk about how they’ve managed to make it to this point. 

“We got a lot of underdogs on this team,” said Butler. “A lot of people have been doubted, just throughout life…we want to seize our opportunity, and just be great out there.”

“We stay reslient. We stay together. That showed today. Everybody was playing with love and passion for one another. We can’t focus about anything but the next game. We just have a lot of love, and we’re going to win that game.”

With a pat on the back from Head Coach Mark Pope, Brea followed Butler with a passionate message.

“I agree with them, and I continue to say, I feel like God really has a plan for this team,” said Brea. “A lot of people think we wasn’t going to be able to be here, and so, it’s just a testament to what God has done for us.” 

Butler, with a statement that would make every Kentucky fan happy, said confidently that the outcome for the Sweet Sixteen has already been decided. “We’re going to win that game,” said Butler. 

Pope talked about the bond this team has and how happy he is that Big Blue Nation (BBN) gets to see it.

“What a blessing to be around this group,” said Pope. “I am glad BBN gets to see it. I hope they feel it from these guys.”

Butler added in the locker room how excited he is to be in the Sweet Sixteen and face Tennessee.

“Tennessee is a great team…we’re gonna have a great scout on them,” said Butler. “I hope I can finish the game, hopefully, it’s a win too.” 

The Wildcats are coming off a red-hot win against Illinois and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Now, with history within reach, the Wildcats will need to take down that orange “little brother” a third and final time this year. 

The Wildcats and Volunteers have never exactly got along, although in recent memory, their bordering rivalry has taken on a greater intensity.

Part of that is surely owed to the SEC’s improvement and rise in recent years, but the sheer vitriol shared between the two fanbases certainly hasn’t improved the situation.

Ahead of the Sweet 16 matchup between the two, the bickering has boiled over into the rosters themselves, with Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler being photographed “flipping the bird”, if you will, to a Kentucky logo.

It didn’t take long for the picture to make rounds on social media and, subsequently, to Kentucky players themselves, who were asked about the situation in the lead-up to the game.

“I’ve seen that,” Lamont Butler said of the photo, with a chuckle. “It gives us a little bit more motivation… we’re not really too worried about it, we just have to go out there and play.”

Collin Chandler was also asked about the picture, saying, “No comment on it.”

“We saw it, and we’re ready.”

Amari Williams called the gesture “cute”, citing Tennessee’s lack of success against Kentucky in recent seasons.

“It’s cute when a team that hasn’t beaten us in who knows how long tries something like that,” he said. “We don’t really care. They can do whatever.”

Things are strictly business for Kentucky, it seems, who will advance to their first Elite Eight since 2019 given a victory over the Volunteers. The bout begins tomorrow night at 7:39 p.m. on TBS.

Kentucky and Tennessee is one of the biggest rivalries in college basketball.

Having played each other 241 times, with the Wildcats holding a dominant 163-78 series lead, they have never played for larger stakes than they will on Friday night as they face off in a Sweet Sixteen matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. It will be the first time the two teams have played one another in the NCAA Tournament.

Not only will the winning team be one step closer to a Final Four, but they will have bragging rights of ending their rival’s season.

As the teams prepare, a photo has surfaced following the Volunteers’ Round of 32 win to beat UCLA in Rupp Arena. Photographer Erin Powers caught a shot of guard Zakai Zeigler flipping off a UK logo.

Per her Instagram post:

Zeigler is 3-6 against the Wildcats in his career, including 0-2 this season. If Kentucky wins on Friday, it will end his career.

Mark Pope has instilled a passion and love for the Kentucky program into each player, and if they needed any more motivation against Tennessee, they certainly have it now.

Thanks for the bulletin board material, Mr. Zeigler.

With a trip to the Elite Eight on the line, Kentucky-Tennessee will tip off at 7:39 PM EST on TBS.