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MILWAUKEE — Koby Brea matched a career high with 23 points and Kentucky beat Illinois 84-75 on Sunday to advance beyond the NCAA Tournament's opening weekend for the first time since they reached the Elite Eight in 2019. Kentucky, the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, faces No. 2 seed and Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee on Friday in Indianapolis. The Wildcats have already beaten the Volunteers twice this season. Coach Mark Pope led the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in his first season after never winning a March Madness game with BYU. He joins the Wildcats' former coach, John Calipari, who's in the Sweet 16 with Arkansas.
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Kentucky guard Koby Brea (4) handles the ball against Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Milwaukee. - AP Photo/Kayla Wolf
