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Kentucky basketball's thrilling and heartbreaking history at Lucas Oil Stadium revealed

The Wildcats have played 3 times at the home of the Indianapolis Colts, and the last one is a bittersweet moment BBN wants to forget ever happened. But the first 2? Those are so sweet.
ByDrew Holbrook|
Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker (15) reacts after hitting a key three point shot with about 1:30 remaining during their second half of their NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Saturday, April 4 2015 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. MARK HOFFMAN/MHOFFMAN@JOURNALSENTINEL.COM
Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker (15) reacts after hitting a key three point shot with about 1:30 remaining during their second half of their NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Saturday, April 4 2015 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. MARK HOFFMAN/MHOFFMAN@JOURNALSENTINEL.COM | Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kentucky basketball’s Lucas Oil Stadium story swings from sweet to sour—two thrilling wins in 2014, one crushing loss in 2015. Leaving Kentucky's record 2-1 at Lucas Oil Stadium, all in the NCAA tournament. Now, on March 28th, 2025, the Wildcats face Tennessee at the same venue in the Sweet 16, chasing the highs of old over another heartbreak. Here’s what went down in Indy.

2014: Sweet Triumphs in Indy

Kentucky’s 2014 Lucas Oil run was a fan’s dream, delivering back-to-back nail-biters.

  • March 28th, 2014: Kentucky 74, Louisville 69 (Sweet 16)
    In front of 41,072 at the Midwest Regional Semifinals, the No. 8 seed Cats toppled No. 4 Louisville. Julius Randle’s double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Aaron Harrison’s late three-pointer crushed Louisville. Beating the Cards is sweet, but in the NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium? As sweet as it gets.
  • March 30th, 2014: Kentucky 75, Michigan 72 (Elite 8)
    Two days later, with 35,551 watching, Kentucky edged No. 2 Michigan. Harrison struck again—a corner three with 2.3 seconds left—clinching a Final Four spot. Pure, sugary bliss.

2015: Perfection Shattered by Wisconsin

One year later, Lucas Oil turned bitter.

  • April 4, 2015: Kentucky 64, Wisconsin 71 (Final Four)
    Undefeated at 38-0, Kentucky rolled in with 72,238 fans expecting a title. Frank Kaminsky’s Badgers rewrote the script. This was the last time Kentucky stepped foot on the floor in Indianapolis. The 6-foot-11 star torched the Cats for 20 points and 11 rebounds, outshining Karl-Anthony Towns. A late 8-0 Wisconsin run broke perfection’s dreams. Big Blue History logs the agony—Kentucky’s only Lucas Oil loss still stings.

2025: Tennessee Looms—Sweet or Sour?

Now, Kentucky (24-11) returns as a No. 3 seed to face No. 2 Tennessee (29-7) at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Cats own a 5-0 underdog streak vs. the Vols since 2023, per KSR , and sit at +4.5 on FanDuel. Mark Pope’s squad craves the Louisville-Michigan thrill—heart-pounding wins, roaring crowds—not the Wisconsin ache. A victory could flip the Indy script, with tickets soaring on .

Conclusion

Kentucky’s Lucas Oil Stadium past is 2-1: two sweet 2014 highs, one 2015 heartbreak. Against Tennessee, the Wildcats want that Louisville-Michigan rush, not Wisconsin’s echo of loss. Friday’s game could redefine their Indy legacy and erase that bittersweet taste for a moment.

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