The Cats haven’t been back since beating Marquette way back in 1940.
Even the most pessimistic fan has to credit a first-year head coach like Mark Pope for securing a 3-seed in the NCAA tournament.
And in Pope’s case, he inherited zero players and was forced to assemble an entire roster in just a few weeks.
Despite it being a roller coaster of a season, the Kentucky Wildcats fought their way through the toughest conference in modern basketball history to position themselves well for a March run.
Now, it’ll be Kentucky taking on the 14th-seeded Trojans of Troy on Friday night at 7:10 ET. The game will be played in Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum.
To my surprise, the first-round match-up will mark only the second time ever that UK has traveled to play a game in Milwaukee.
The first time?
According to our friend Corey Price from the UK Sports Network, it was way back on February 3rd, 1940, when the Cats beat Marquette by a score of 51-45.
.@KentuckyMBB has only played 1 game in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in program history:
– February 3rd, 1940: defeated Marquette 51-45
— Corey Price (@coreyp08) March 16, 2025
So, it’s fair to say that the Big Blue Nation may not be very familiar with Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Being that it’s within driving distance and a favorable Friday evening game time, I expect that the streets will be paved in blue all weekend.
After a quick Google search, here’s what I landed on as far as top tourist activities in the downtown Milwaukee area:
• Milwaukee Art Museum: Explore a diverse art collection, including German expressionism and modern design, in a unique architectural setting.
• Milwaukee Public Museum: Discover natural and human history through interactive exhibits.
• Historic Third Ward: Wander through this creative hub, known for its performing arts venues, studio spaces, indie boutiques, and patio dining.
• Milwaukee Public Market: Enjoy a vibrant market experience with gourmet food, fresh seafood, and meats.
• RiverWalk: Enjoy a stroll along the Milwaukee River, with options for kayaking, paddleboarding, and boat tours.
• Old World Third Street: Explore a variety of restaurants and bars along the Milwaukee River.
• Lakefront Brewery: Take a brewery tour and enjoy a scenic riverfront patio.
If you are planning to make the trip to Milwaukee — be safe and cheer loud!