Madness is over for Kentucky basketball, which lost to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. But Mark Pope exceed expectations in Year 1.

Kentucky was nearly cooked in the first round of March Madness elimination after a stunning late surge by Liberty during the women's NCAA tournament.

The loss was the first Kentucky had suffered against Tennessee this season, with the Wildcats sweeping the regular season series earlier this year. Kentucky’s exit from the NCAA Tournament was of course before the Final Four and therefore a bit earlier than UK fans had hoped.

Tennessee’s defense has been dominant through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. No. 15 seed Wofford was held to 62 points in the first round, and No. 7 seed UCLA failed to break 60 points. The Volunteers must forget the regular season losses against the Wildcats and keep the positive momentum rolling.