LOS ANGELES (WITI) -- Last year, the Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Arizona Wildcats to advance to the Final Four -- and on Saturday evening, March 28th, they did it again! The #2 seed Wildcats fell to the #1 seed Badgers 85-78 in the West Region final in Los Angeles, and the Badgers are headed to the Final Four for the second consecutive year. It's the first time this has happened in school history.
Saturday's game was the first in more than 40 years to pit two teams who played each other in the Elite Eight the prior year.
Frank Kaminsky led the Badgers with 29 points, while Sam Dekker had his second career game in a row -- scoring a career-high 27 points, including five three-pointers.
The Badgers hit 12 of their 18 three-point attempts -- pushing them past the Wildcats and into the Final Four.
"Just got some good looks. A lot of those weren't, you know, too toughly contested. I was able to step into them and knock them down and, you know, when we're shooting so well, they're going to extend and it leaves the paint open for some drives, so I was able to, you know, get my feet in the lane and, you know, make something happen. I think Frank did the same thing in the second half. When you can do things like that, it opens up the floor and makes it a lot easier," Dekker said.
"Sam the man! He definitely is, as I've been saying all week, he's definitely an NBA first-rounder, and he stepped up tremendously again for us. I would say last year our goal was to get to the Final Four, and now that we've done that, we're a year older, stronger and better than we were. I think we have a different goal and that's to win it," Nigel Hayes said.
"We're happy, and we're going to enjoy it, but you know, I think last year we got a little over excited just going to the Final Four, and this year, you know, it's time to go a game further and win a national championship," Frank Kaminsky said.
The Badgers play the Kentucky Wildcats next Saturday, April 4th in what will be another rematch for the Badgers. Tip-off is set for 7:49 p.m. Milwaukee time. Last year, Wisconsin lost to Kentucky in the national semifinal 74-73.
There was some controversy surrounding the Badgers game on Saturday evening.
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was on hand -- backing Bucky, and Badgers fans thought that was neat. One guy who didn't was CBS Sports columnist Dennis Dodd.
Dodd was upset because Rodgers was allowed on the floor after the game as the Badgers cut down the nets. He is also upset Rodgers refused an interview.