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The Wisconsin Badgers reached the Final Four for the first time in Ryan’s tenure in 2014. (Getty)
Final Score
Arizona 33-45–78
Wisconsin 30-55–85
In a historic shooting performance, the Wisconsin Badgers became the first team to advance to the 2015 Final Four in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis with a 85-78 win against the Arizona Wildcats. After a heartbreaking loss last season for Arizona, this one may have been a little worse.
Entering the game, Arizona was historically one of the most defensive efficient teams. The Badgers shot 56% from the floor and 67%!!!!! from three-point land.
Wisconsin awaits the winner of Kentucky vs. Notre Dame in the Final Four. If Kentucky wins, it would set up a rematch of last year’s National Semifinal game that Kentucky won.
Click here for a full box score and continued recap of the game.
Game Notes:
– The Wisconsin Badgers started with a quick 10-2 run over five minutes into the game. Arizona eventually settled into the game. Frank Kaminsky’s was the game’s leading scorer at halftime with 13 points. The wildcats had a balanced scoring attack
Three minutes into the 2nd half, Kaminsky scored his 20th point of the game. Kaminsky’s Elite Eight performances against Arizona have been legendary.
– Wisconsin’s 2nd-half shooting has been crazy good. For the game, they’re shooting 53% and 64% (!!!) from three-point land. Dekker and Kaminsky have 50 of Wisconsin’s 79 points in the game. Dekker has made himself a lot of money in this NCAA Tournament.
With under a minute left, Dekker hit another three-point shot, which was the dagger for Arizona.
Arizona Looks to Avenge Last Year’s Elite Eight Loss to Wisconsin
Last year, the roles were reversed — Arizona was the No. 1 seed in the West and Wisconsin was a No. 2. In a thrilling overtime game, Wisconsin upset Arizona 64-63 to reach the Final Four for the first time in Bo Ryan‘s tenure as the head coach of the Badgers. The game, however, ended in controversy due to an oddly-timed “charge” call against Arizona in the waning seconds.
Here is the full game on YouTube.
Arizona returns a potent lineup that rolled through the Pac-12 en route to their second straight Elite Eight. The Wildcats are lead by NBA prospects Stanley Johnson — who has had a quiet Tournament — and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. They also boast plenty of size in Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski and scoring depth in senior guard T.J. McConnell and three-point spark plug Gabe York off the bench.
Wisconsin predominantly returns the same lineup led by their important quartet of: All-American Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, Nigel Hayes and Traevon Jackson. The Badgers won the Big Ten by defeating a game Michigan State — who plays Louisville in the Elite Eight on Sunday — and got through tough Oregon and North Carolina tests in the earlier rounds.
Wildcats head coach Sean Miller has still never made a Final Four, and will look to continue to lead this group on a redemption path to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
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