by INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Nobody ever said they were perfect. Now, the Kentucky Wildcats aren’t undefeated, either.
The hard-nosed Wisconsin Badgers did what nobody else could this season — knocking off the Wildcats 71-64 on Saturday night behind 20 points and 11 rebounds from Frank Kaminsky and a clutch comeback down the stretch.
Now, instead of Kentucky going for history, it’s Wisconsin heading to the final to play Duke, an 81-61 winner over Michigan State in the earlier semifinal.
”It gives us another 40 minutes, I know that,” said Wisconsin coachBo Ryan, who leads the Badgers to their first final since 1941.
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The Badgers, who lost 80-70 to Duke in December meeting in Madison, opened as one-point favorites over the Blue Devils.
Kentucky closes the season at 38-1 — two wins short of becoming the first undefeated team in college basketball since the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers. Instead, these NBA-ready group of Wildcats join the star-studded 1991 UNLV team as the latest to take an undefeated record into the Final Four but lose in the semifinals.
It’s not the only program with talent, though.
Wisconsin has some future pros, and they came up big in the biggest game of their lives — a rematch of last year’s semifinals when the Wildcats won 74-73.
This year, Kentucky had burnished a reputation as a team that never quits when things don’t look so good – a la last week’s win over Notre Dame – but Wisconsin stuck in there this time.
”They did to us what we’ve been doing to other teams all season,” Calipari said. ”They executed down the stretch and we didn’t.”
Trailing by four and gasping for breath with their hands on their knees after going 6 minutes without a bucket, the Badgers (36-3) responded with an 8-0 run to take a lead Kentucky couldn’t overcome. Kentucky led 60-56 with 6:37 left and didn’t score again until there were 56 seconds left.
Future NBAer Sam Dekker did most of the damage during that stretch.
He started the run with a tough, twisting shot, then Nigel Hayes tied the game by tipping in an air ball after the shot clock had clearly turned to ”0.” No violation was called, and in a game full of shaky officiating that left both coaches screaming, it generated momentum for the Badgers and left Kentucky flat.
Tied at 60, Andrew Harrison missed on Kentucky’s next possession. Dekker followed by spotting up for a 3-pointer that gave Wisconsin the lead for good with 1:42 left, then drawing a charge call when Trey Lyles slammed his shoulder into Dekker’s chest.
Another free throw made it 64-60 and Kentucky was in full comeback mode.
Ahead 64-63 with 24 seconds left, Kaminsky, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday, hit two free throws. He and Bronson Koenigwent 7 for 8 from the line over the last 24 seconds to seal the win.
”Best birthday present I’ve ever had,” Kaminsky said.
