This is it. The rematch with the Kentucky Wildcats that not only the Wisconsin Badgers have been waiting a year for, but basketball fans in general. The 2015 Final Four kicks off with Duke taking on Michigan State and the night-cap sees the Wildcats facing the Badgers for a right to play in the national championship on Monday, April 6th.
Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin’s road to the Final Four saw them go through Coastal Carolina, Oregon, North Carolina and Arizona. As good as Frank Kaminsky has played in the tournament (22.8 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game), Sam Dekker has played out of his mind as of late. Dekker is averaging 21.8 ppg in the tournament and just under six rebounds per game. But it’s been Dekke’s last two games that really turned heads. He scored what was then a career-high 23 points in a very tough matchup with North Carolina. Dekker went on to top that with 27 points, including 5-5 from three-point range in the second half.
The road to the Final Four for the undefeated Wildcats saw them go through Hampton, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Notre Dame. After absolutely dismantling West Virginia in the Sweet 16, Kentucky survived everything Notre Dame threw at them and then some to advance to the Final Four. The Wildcats are very deep, rebound very well and can run the floor better than anyone in college basketball. Led by the Harrison twins, Aaron and Andrew, along with Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein, it’s no wonder why this team is so explosive.
It’s the rematch we’ve waited a very long time for. Does Kentucky continue to be undefeated? Or will Bo Ryan and the Badgers finally get over that last hump and reach the national championship game?
Date: Saturday, April 4th
Time: Approx. 7:49 p.m. CT
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium
TV Channel: TBS
Wisconsin Team Stream: truTV
Live Stream: NCAA March Madness Live
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
Team Stream Announcers: Wayne Larrivee, Mike Kelley and Phil Dawson
Radio: Badgers Sports Network and Westwood One
Live Stats: UWBadgers.com
Odds via Bovada: KENTUCKY -5