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Excited Badgers fans fill Upper 90 Pub in Milwaukee
Excited Badgers fans fill Upper 90 Pub in Milwaukee
ANAHEIM/MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- For Wisconsin fans who couldn't be in Anaheim, the Upper 90 Pub in Milwaukee was the place to be among other Badgers fans as the team took on Baylor in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 on Thursday night, March 27th. The Badgers were victorious -- defeating Baylor 69-52.
"I`ve loved the Badgers pretty much all my life," Cory Anderson said.
The Upper 90 Pub isn't the Kohl Center, but there was no shortage of Badgers pride among the fans -- many of whom are University of Wisconsin alumni.
"I really want Bo Ryan to make it to his first Final Four," Lisa Lusiak said.
"It`s a little nerve wrecking cause Baylor looks really, really good right now," Kyle Preston said.
"The team they`re playing is very athletic, but I think they can handle the team," Anderson said.
By the second half, Badgers fans were feeling comfortable with the team's lead.
"Fantastic, I didn`t expect things to go quite as well as they have so far," Preston said.
"They`ve been incredible. Defense, offense -- it`s been great," Lusiak said.
Frank Kaminsky scored 19 points and blocked six shots. Ben Brust hit three 3-pointers and scored 14 points for the #2 Badgers.
The Badgers jumped to a 14-point lead in the first half, and never let up on the overmatched Baylor Bears.
The seven-foot Kaminsky and his disciplined teammates shredded the Baylor zone defense that played so well in the first two games.
Wisconsin also methodically shut down Baylor's talented offense while moving into its second regional final in 13 years under Bo Ryan, who has never reached a Final Four in a 700-win coaching career.
Cory Jefferson scored 15 points for the sixth-seeded Bears, who did little with their third Sweet 16 trip in five years.
With the win, the Badgers have launched themselves into the NCAA Tournament's Elite 8! The Badgers play on Saturday, March 29th in Anaheim. They will play the winner of the Arizona/San Diego State game.
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