Since his arrival as the Kentucky men’s basketball coach last April, Mark Pope has championed the pursuit of banner No. 9 for the Wildcats. Now, the path has been laid out as Pope tries to guide UK back to NCAA Tournament glory.

The University of Kentucky basketball team earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament in the Midwest Region and will face No. 14 seed Troy.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WYMT) - The Kentucky men’s basketball team will begin its NCAA Tournament run as a 3-seed in the Midwest Region against the 14-seed Troy Trojans on Friday, March 21. UK men’s basketball is a 3-seed in the Midwest Region. The Cats are headed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and will face 14-seed Troy Trojans on Friday, March 21. #MarchMadness

It’s Kentucky Wildcats vs Troy Trojans in March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.

Kentucky basketball freshman forward Trent Noah wasn't in attendance for the team's NCAA Tournament watch party Sunday. Why was Noah absent from it?

UK was without fifth-year guard Lamont Butler for the contest after he reinjured his left shoulder on Thursday night during Kentucky’s SEC Tournament second round win over Oklahoma. Prior to Friday’s game, Pope offered a positive injury update on Butler, indicating that Butler will be back for Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament run next week.

A look at the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional — which includes the No. 3 seed Kentucky Wildcats: Meet UK’s first foe. Kentucky (22-11, 10-8 SEC regula

It was Kentucky vs Alabama in an SEC Tournament game in Nashville. Look back at UK basketball game highlights.

Mark Pope delivered good news to the Kentucky Wildcats faithful ahead of March Madness, updating the status of injured guard Lamont Butler.