Kentucky
Should Tennessee basketball root for Kentucky or Illinois as Sweet 16 opponent? | Adams
Tennessee basketball proved it could win at Rupp Arena in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. Next, it might have to prove it can beat Rupp Arena’s home team.
That might present a greater challenge than what the Vols encountered in an impressive 67-58 second-round victory over UCLA on Saturday in Lexington, Kentucky.
Or maybe, the Vols will avoid tangling with their longtime SEC rival. Third-seeded Kentucky, which beat UT twice during the regular season, will have to get past Illinois in a second-round game Sunday to create a Tennessee-Kentucky matchup in the Sweet 16.
Not only did No. 2 seed Tennessee (29-7) advance to the tournament’s second weekend with the victory over No. 7 seed UCLA (23-11). It moved within one game of a second 30-win season under coach Rick Barnes.
The game between a pair of defensive-minded teams unfolded as expected in the early going. The Vols finally managed separation when they ran off eight consecutive points to close out the first half with a 32-25 lead. A Chaz Lanier steal, which he converted into a three-point play, highlighted UT’s surge.
As good as UCLA’s defense has been at times this season, it struggled terribly keeping up with Lanier. He reached the 20-point mark early in the second half. By then, he also had broken Chris Lofton’s school record for 3-pointers.
Lanier, who scored 29 points in the first-round victory over Wofford, has been at his best in the tournament, an encouraging sign for the Vols, whose March Madness failures under Barnes usually have been related to offensive shortcomings.
They had more offense than coach Mick Cronin’s Bruins could handle – and more defense, too.
Tennessee joined two other top-four Midwest Regional seeds in reaching the Sweet 16. No. 1 seed Houston started fast against Gonzaga and held on for an 81-76 victory. Fourth-seeded Purdue cruised past McNeese 76-62 into the Sweet 16. No 3 Kentucky can make it four-for-four by turning back No. 6 Illinois on Sunday.
The Vols are assured of a familiar opponent in the Sweet 16 regardless of whether Illinois or Kentucky advance.
UT edged Illinois 66-64 in Champaign in mid-December, thanks mainly to the scoring of guard Jordan Gainey, who had a game-high 23 points, including the game-winning basket in the final seconds.
Kentucky is a different matter. The Wildcats defeated the Vols twice during the regular season, which could evoke different feelings about a third meeting among the Vols fanbase.
Tennessee optimists might cling to the basketball adage: “It’s hard to beat a team three times in a season.” But if you watched both Kentucky-Tennessee regular-season games, you can’t easily dismiss the Wildcats as a possibly serious obstacle to the Vols reaching the Elite Eight.
Kentucky didn’t just win twice. It won as so few teams have against the Vols, exploiting their usually dogged defense with surprisingly efficient shooting.
In the first Tennessee game, Kentucky made 50% of its shots in a 78-73 victory at Food City Center. The Wildcats were just as accurate in winning the rematch at Rupp Arena 75-64. In each game, they made 12 of 24 3-pointers.
Those outcomes are two reasons why UT fans might ignore the “hard to beat a team three times” saying and pull for Illinois, which is a 1.5-point favorite over Kentucky despite being a lower seed.
Tennessee fans shouldn’t complain if Illinois is victorious. But looking further ahead, they probably feel better about their chances against Houston if the region’s top two seeds wind up meeting in the Sweet 16. Houston looked vulnerable in the second half against Gonzaga, which cut the Cougars’ double-figure lead to a point with 21 seconds remaining.
Unlike Houston, the Vols raised their level of play as the game progressed against UCLA. That performance should bolster their confidence for the Sweet 16 when they try to become the first team in school history to make the Final Four.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns
Top headlines of the week, May 8 2026
Here are some stories you may have missed this week in central Ohio.
Authorities said a body recovered May 4 from the Ohio River in northeast Kentucky has been identified as a Columbus man, Dispatch news partner NBC4/WMCH-TV reported.
Lewis County Sheriff Johnny Bivens said the body has been identified as Jason D. Frisbie, 38, of Columbus. Bivens said authorities in Kentucky worked with Ohio officials to identify Frisbie this week.
Bivens said Lewis County took a call around 4:30 p.m. May 4 about a body in the river in Vanceburg, Kentucky, a few miles south of Ohio’s Shawnee State Park. Bivens said responding agencies took the body to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office.
Lewis County authorities asked for public help identifying the body. On May 9, Bivens confirmed Frisbie’s identity after working with Ohio officials and local responders.
Bivens said the death remains under investigation, and authorities did not offer information about a suspected cause.
Kentucky
Two ‘dangerous’ inmates escape Kentucky detention center, sparking multi-agency manhunt across region
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped Friday evening from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt, police said.
The Morehead Police Department warned the surrounding community that two inmates had “walked away” from the Rowan County Detention Center.
Investigators said multiple law enforcement agencies are actively searching for the escapees, with Kentucky State Police leading the investigation.
“These inmates should be considered dangerous,” police said, warning the community not to approach anyone suspicious or unfamiliar.
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt. (Morehead Police Department)
One of the inmates was identified as Michael Fogleman, 29, who is described as 6 feet tall and 188 pounds.
He has short or closely shaved hair and a short beard along his jawline and chin, according to police.
The second inmate was identified as James Smallwood, 52, who is listed at 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 215 pounds.
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Michael Fogleman, 29, is one of two inmates who escaped from a Kentucky detention center, police said. (Morehead Police Department)
He is described as having a medium to stocky build with gray facial hair around the mouth and chin area.
Smallwood was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans and possibly a hat, police said.
James Smallwood, 52, is one of two inmates on the run after escaping from a Kentucky jail, authorities said. (Morehead Police Department)
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and call 911 immediately if they see anything suspicious or have information about the escapees.
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Law enforcement agencies are searching for two escaped inmates in Kentucky, authorities said. (Silas Walker/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service)
Investigators said they will provide more information as it becomes available.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kentucky State Police and Rowan County Detention Center for comment.
The Kentucky high school 2026 outdoor track and field season has been exceptional, especially the girls competition.
In particular, the sprints and horizontal jumps.
Long Jump Leaders Set the Pace
First, the long jump.
Christian Educational Consortium’s Jade Hartlage, a rising superstar of track and field in its totality, has the state’s leading jump, 19feet, 9 inches, set March 26. She is partially homeschooled and not eligible for in KHSAA postseason.
Hartlage’s mark is followed by Simon Kenton’s Alexis Howard (19-0, March 26). Howard is another standout athlete. She was selected as a 2025 All-State Honorable Mention in soccer. Howard won the 3A indoor title in early March, recording a mark of 18-7 1/4.
Howard, Svidal Among Top Contenders
Walden School senior Natalie Svidal sailed to an 18-4 1/2 mark at the Walden Small School Championships May 5. That ties her for third in the state with Taleigha Nash of Great Crossing High School.
Triple Jump Competition Tightens
In the triple jump, Howard is atop the performance list. She leapt 40-5, April 25.
However, Svidal is close. She recorded 40-2 1/4 this past week.
Multi-Sport Stars Making Impact
Teigh Yeast, yet another standout athlete, who helped George Rogers Clark win a state basketball title in March and is a Robert Morris University basketball commit, logged a 40-0 1/2 jump April 21. Yeast was last season’s 3A champion at 39-5.25.
How Kentucky Stacks Up Nationally
Perspective and context need to be applied here. Here’s how Kentucky compares nationally.
National Benchmarks Set the Bar
Parker Coes of Morton Ranch High School (Katy, Texas) has surpassed 21 feet twice in 2026. Abigail Mecklenburg of Linn-Mar High School (Marion, Iowa) is approaching the 21-foot threshold.
Coes’ marks were achieved in the early indoor season. The Texan has jumped 20-10 1/2 outdoors (April 3) but her last mark was 18-11 3/4, May 2.
Mecklenburg is yet to replicate her indoor marks outdoors.
The top outdoor jump so far in 2026 is 42-7.5, set by Daniela Hughes of Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California).
A significant challenge for the Bluegrass jumpers to surpass. But if there is a season for top-10 national rankings or records.
State Records Within Reach
With that said, the Kentucky state records are potentially breakable in the next two weeks. The current records are 20-4 (Maxine Graham, Fleming County High School, 1975) and 41-7 (Sophie Galloway, Marshall County High School, 2021).
Each has the speed and explosiveness to challenge those marks.
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