The Kentucky Wildcats are moving on to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. The Cats defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini by a score of 84-75. Kentucky took off to a 12-5 early lead and never looked back though Illinois did get close, cutting it to a one-possession game more than once in the first half.

In his first season on the job, Mark Pope leads the Kentucky Wildcats back to the Sweet 16 for the first time in six years. Koby Brea was the offensive star of the night.

While Kentucky was busy earning its way into the Sweet 16, head coach Mark Pope was adding another year onto his Wildcats contract, as well as earning a hefty bonus at the same time. Pope has turned his first season at Kentucky into a successful one by advancing to the second week of the NCAA Tournament following an 84-75 victory over Illinois on Sunday.