USA TODAY Sports' Scott Gleeson and Nancy Armour preview the Final Four matchup between Kentucky and Wisconsin.
VIDEOS UK BASKETBALL IN THE FINAL FOURHow to beat Kentucky in the Final Four 01 37USA TODAY Sports' Scott Gleeson discusses the game plan to beating undefeated (38 0) Kentucky.
VIDEOS UK BASKETBALL IN THE FINAL FOURVideo Calipari players after thrilling win 17 53Video Kentucky talks after defeating Notre Dame
VIDEOS UK BASKETBALL IN THE FINAL FOURVideo UK fans celebrate in Lexington 01 00Kentucky basketball fans took to State Street in Lexington Saturday night to celebrate UK's win over Notre Dame and earn a trip to the 2015 Final Four in Indianapolis. James Crisp / special to The Courier Journal
VIDEOS UK BASKETBALL IN THE FINAL FOURVideo UK's Cauley Stein on defensive heroics vs. ND 05 36Video UK's Cauley Stein on defensive heroics vs. ND
VIDEOS UK BASKETBALL IN THE FINAL FOURVideo UK's Aaron Harrison on another clutch three 01 16Video UK's Aaron Harrison on another clutch three
VIDEOS UK BASKETBALL IN THE FINAL FOURVideo UK's Andrew Harrison on clinching free throws 01 16Video UK's Andrew Harrison on clinching free throws
VIDEOS UK BASKETBALL IN THE FINAL FOURVideo UK's Ulis has a new net necklace Final Four ticket 03 07Video UK's Ulis has a new net necklace Final Four ticket
VIDEOS UK BASKETBALL IN THE FINAL FOURVideo UK's Towns hugs trophy talks Elite Eight win 03 06Video UK's Towns hugs trophy talks Elite Eight win
VIDEOS UK BASKETBALL IN THE FINAL FOURVideo Can Anyone Stop Kentucky 02 41BasketballInsiders.com s Cody Toppert and CineSport s Brian Clark discuss Kentucky s dominant win over West Virginia and discuss Wisconsin Arizona and Notre Dame s Sweet 16 wins.
Last VideoNext VideoKentucky's Aaron Harrison far left celebrates with his team after the Wildcats defeated the Badgers Saturday night at the Final Four at ATT Stadium in Arlington Texas. April 5 2014
CLEVELAND Since Aaron Harrison's final dagger dropped with six seconds left in last year's national semifinal Wisconsin has been on a mission.
That loss left a sour taste in our mouth so we wanted to get back Badgers forward Sam Dekker said Saturday after winning the NCAA Tournament's West Regional to return to the Final Four.
Since Connecticut ruined Kentucky's storybook ending in the national championship game last season the Wildcats have been similarly motivated.
Just two more games said Andrew Harrison late Saturday night after hitting the clinching free throws against Notre Dame to get UK into its second straight Final Four and fourth in five years under coach John Calipari. You really remember that feeling you had after the (title) game last year. You don't want to have that feeling again.
But someone's redemption tour will be stopped short in the rematch. The undefeated Wildcats (38 0) must go through red hot Wisconsin (35 3) again this time in Indianapolis for their shot at a ninth NCAA championship and college basketball's first 40 0 season.
The Badgers who returned eight of the nine guys who played in last year's Final Four duel with Kentucky have won 10 straight games and hit 10 of 12 3 pointers in the second half Saturday to blow by Arizona.
I know (Wisconsin coach) Bo Ryan and he's a great friend and how good he coaches said Calipari who has won 15 of his last 16 NCAA Tournament games. I've said all along I thought the (four) best teams were us Wisconsin and Arizona and Duke. And other teams are right there but those four seem to be a little bit better than the others.
The Badgers have a combination of shooting and size seven players 6 8 or taller including 6 9 Dekker and 7 foot All American Frank Kaminsky to threaten the Cats. Kentucky with just one major contributor shorter than 6 6 ultimately overtook the Fighting Irish with a massive mismatch in length.
That's a great matchup said Notre Dame coach Mike Brey after his team fell just short in a 68 66 thriller. Wisconsin's a little bit like us they're skilled and they can spread people out. They have a little more bulk and frontline size but they're really skilled offensive guys and certainly we were able to get some things tonight.
THE COURIER JOURNAL
Analysis Towns UK outlast Notre Dame 68 66
The Cats returned just five of the guys who played against Wisconsin the first time and lost their top two scorers from that 74 73 classic but that doesn't mean the Cats are less equipped. This team is actually far better than that one. They added four McDonald's All Americans including 6 11 freshman star Karl Anthony Towns who poured in 25 points against the Irish.
Junior 7 footer Willie Cauley Stein the nation's top defender who helped save Saturday's game with a late block was injured and didn't play the Badgers last year. But he knows this will be a challenge.
I'm glad we have a week to prepare for them Cauley Stein said. The way they play together is the best in the country. This is when I'm glad we don't have one day to prepare for them. One day to prepare for a team like Notre Dame That's why we couldn't stop them. If we'd had a couple more days to see where the holes are . but the way they run their offense is crazy. You really can't stop it.
THE COURIER JOURNAL
Analysis Towns UK outlast Notre Dame 68 66
It's really them missing shots and you get the rebounds and that's how you stop them. Otherwise they're going to get their shots up and if they're making them it's going to be a long night.
One of the Wildcats' newcomers rookie point guard Tyler Ulis is still familiar with Wisconsin's best player Kaminsky. They're both former Illinois high school stars and played in the same league.
Ulis is new to this matchup and this stage but he knows what to expect.
Another hard fought game he said and I feel like they want some get back from last year.
Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582 4361. Follow him on Twitter KyleTucker_CJ.
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