Kentucky players shared the same message after Sweet 16 exit vs. Tennessee

The Kentucky men’s basketball team was in great spirits Friday despite getting eliminated from the NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats lost to the Tennessee Volunteers 78-65 in their Sweet 16 matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. Kentucky fell behind by as many as 19 points in the first half and never threatened to mount a comeback, trailing by double figures for the rest of the game.

But despite the result, the vibes were high during Kentucky’s postgame press conference. Seniors Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr, and Koby Brea all made it clear that Kentucky head coach Mark Pope had built a program worth playing for, and even transferring for.

“The bar is going to be set high for the next people who come under Pope,” Butler said. “It’s going to be fun to watch, for sure.”

“If you’re in the transfer portal, and you’re looking for a spot to go, go to Kentucky,” added Carr. “I’ll tell you that much. Go to Kentucky.”

Brea also expressed how amazing the experience was in his lone year playing for Big Blue Nation.

“We were all strangers when we first got here,” Brea said. “We didn’t have a lot of time to bond and get to know each other, and make this possible, what we just did. We’re all a big family now. BBN has been amazing. They’ve made this dream a reality for me. Ever since I stepped on campus, everybody’s greeted me with open arms.”

All three seniors started Friday’s game alongside junior Otega Oweh and fellow senior Amari Williams, whom Kentucky fans will always remember for his lucky bowls of cereal before the Wildcats’ win over Illinois. All five of them and most of the 2024-25 team came from the transfer portal.

In his first year as Kentucky’s head coach, Pope had to revamp the entire roster following the departure of John Calipari. Given the success Kentucky had under Pope and the glowing reviews from graduating players, the Wildcats may become a transfer portal hotspot once again.