The Official 2025 March Madness Discussion Thread

[JCP201]

Lots of Illinois fans, or maybe everyone just hates Kentucky.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

Bama hasn’t looked good since they played us. I bet they get smacked by BYU next round.

You may be right about that. If Nelson is out for any significant amount of time that game I would say it is likely, IMO.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Plenty of time left for Illinois. They have to get stops, though. Can’t keep trading baskets. Gotta be better at fighting through screens.

 

[JCP201]

It's going to be an all sec final four. Auburn, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee. The 4 best teams in the best conference ever. That's my prediction. Unfortunately I would hate to play any of those 3 again.

we've beat them all. It would be so awesome for Rick Barnes , Z and Mashack (and us) if we could win this thing.

 

[HeuperDrive]

Bama hasn’t looked good since they played us. I bet they get smacked by BYU next round.

I agree. I’ve been bullish on BYU since before this tournament even started. I think they match up well with Bama.

I’d even go as far as to say they match up quite well with Duke. The BYU that played Wisconsin last night is one of the few teams capable of beating Duke imo, but if they don’t play like that, they’ll probably get the Baylor treatment

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

Lots of Illinois fans, or maybe everyone just hates Kentucky.

KY played last game of the night 1st round. Illinois fans had the jump on buying tickets.
We have had a 24 hour jump on both these teams. Hopefully we get a big jump on buying tickets for the game in Indy.

 

[Proud Army Wife]

It's going to be an all sec final four. Auburn, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee. The 4 best teams in the best conference ever. That's my prediction. Unfortunately I would hate to play any of those 3 again.

Bama is not making it out of that bracket.

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

Surprised Kentucky seems like they actually will advance, fully expected them to lose. Call me crazy, I like the matchup more despite this seasons results against them. They had no business beating us once, let alone twice. If they beat us a third time, hell has froze over. I fully expect to beat the piss outta them and end their season

We don't match up well with them at all. I think it will take one of our best shooting performances of the year to win and hope they don't hit double digit 3s

Also being in Indianapolis will be like a home game for them.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

KY played last game of the night 1st round. Illinois fans had the jump on buying tickets.
We have had a 24 hour jump on both these teams. Hopefully we get a big jump on buying tickets for the game in Indy.

There’s no way we outnumber KY fans in that game.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

Kentucky will hit just enough timely 3's to keep you from making it back if you fall too far behind.
It's why you ABSOLUTELY can not get down to them.
Barnes needs to use his timenouts early and make damn sure the game stays close/they don't build momentum.
Definitely not a game you just " let them play through it".
At halftime he should have zero timenouts left.
For sure.

 

[lawgator1]

Vintage Kentucky. They get super talented players who sleep walk through the season then show their athletic skills once the country is watching.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Kentucky will hit just enough 3's to keep you from making it back if you fall too far behind.
It's why you absolutely can not get down to them.
Barnes needs to use his timenouts early and make damn sure the game stays close.
Definitely not a game you just " let them play through it"

If Kentucky is on fire from three, timeouts aren’t really going to matter.

 

[hUTch2002]

We don't match up well with them at all. I think it will take one of our best shooting performances of the year to win and hope they don't hit double digit 3s

Also being in Indianapolis will be like a home game for them.

We can’t help off the perimeter shooters.

 

[Spawn]

3rd times the charm. Let's crush KY

 

[hUTch2002]

Vintage Kentucky. They get super talented players who sleep walk through the season then show their athletic skills once the country is watching.

Definitely vintage as it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen Kentucky step up in March.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

Now Illinois playing a 3 point for 3 point game.
Never will beat KY like that. Got to keep taking it in and hope they miss/play better D.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Illinois is straight garbage.

Just another example how poor the seeding has been in this tournament.

 

[Kicker82]

Both our games with Kentucky were lost in the last couple minutes…I was kinda hoping to have another shot playing them

 

[VolunteerCeltic]

Watching Illinois versus Kentucky, first thought Illinois plays terrible defense, 2nd thought, Vols are in trouble if Kentucky wins and plays like this

 

[SGMVols]

If Kentucky is on fire from three, timeouts aren’t really going to matter.

Underwood called one early this half and it didn’t faze Kentucky at all. Fans tend to overrate the value of timeouts.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Barnes has had sh*t luck in the tournament when it comes to match ups.

Can’t catch a damn break.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

There’s no way we outnumber KY fans in that game.

We could. Illinois fans out numbering them today. If the tickets would have been available, KY fans would have made the trip.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Both our games with Kentucky were lost in the last couple minutes…I was kinda hoping to have another shot playing them

Looks like you’re going to get your wish. I’d love to get revenge, but having our season end with a 3rd loss to UK would be brutal though.

 

[Aesius]

I guess on the bright side, Pope will likely run the exact same gameplan against us as he did in the first two games. Just hope Barnes can adjust. We have plenty of film to figure out how to counter their strategy. The question is... can we?

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Both our games with Kentucky were lost in the last couple minutes…I was kinda hoping to have another shot playing them

Actually the first game in Knoxville they dominated most of the second half and we cut it to one with about 30 seconds left. Gainey missed a 3 with 12 second left that could have sent it to OT.

The game in Lexington, yes we did. We were up by 2 with under 4:30 left and we fell apart.