The intensity between Kentucky and Tennessee is escalating ahead of their Sweet 16 matchup on Friday. A photo of Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler flipping the middle finger at the Kentucky logo has surfaced, adding fuel to the already heated rivalry.
Kentucky’s Amari Williams responded to the photo, saying, “It’s cute when a team that hasn’t beaten us in who knows how long tries something like that… We don’t really care. They can do whatever.”
The Wildcats have been one of the season’s biggest surprises, defying odds and advancing to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. With just two more wins, they’re Final Four-bound.
Tennessee senior Jahmai Mashack emphasized the intensity of the rivalry, saying, “When you don’t like a school, you don’t like it, and you take it as seriously as you possibly can.”
The game on Friday is expected to feel like a home game for the Wildcats, being played in Indiana. Kentucky is in a great position to reach the Elite Eight, but beating a team three times in one year is always a tough challenge.
The rivalry between the two programs has reached new heights, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out on the court.
