I guess I just didn’t know what to expect traveling to Milwaukee last week, arriving on Wednesday ahead of pregame press conferences and open locker rooms for media on Thursday, followed by the long wait to tip-off on Friday.

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats took on the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Round of 32 and, despite being an underdog, found a way to win this game 84-75. Heading into this game, the key was defense.

While Kentucky was busy earning its way into the Sweet 16, head coach Mark Pope was adding another year onto his Wildcats contract, as well as earning a hefty bonus at the same time. Pope has turned his first season at Kentucky into a successful one by advancing to the second week of the NCAA Tournament following an 84-75 victory over Illinois on Sunday.