The Kentucky Wildcats are gearing up for their 62nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament, a record-extending feat for the program. As a 3-seed in the Midwest Region, they’ll face off against 14th-seeded Troy Trojans on Friday, March 21, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with tipoff scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
This matchup marks a new chapter for the Wildcats under the leadership of Coach Mark Pope, who’s entering his second year at the helm. Pope’s coaching style, which emphasizes technical precision and structure, will be put to the test against Troy’s formidable defense. The Trojans, who secured their spot in the tournament by winning their conference championship, are looking to pull off an upset against the favored Wildcats.
Kentucky will need to assert control on the boards to limit Troy’s second-chance opportunities, dictate the pace to create scoring opportunities, and Troy will need to apply pressure to disrupt Kentucky’s offense. If Kentucky advances to the Round of 32, they’ll head to Indianapolis for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games at Lucas Oil Stadium.
