Sam Dekker & Frank Kaminsky Propel Wisconsin to the Final 4 Again, 85-78

Sam Dekker erupted for 20 points in the second half, including an absurd 5-of-6 on three-pointers – plus two deep daggers in the final 90 seconds – and Wisconsin is going back to the Final 4 after an 85-78 victory over Arizona.

Dekker finished with a career-high 27 points, and couldn’t be guarded by anyone on Arizona after halftime. The problem: Frank Kaminsky. He tore up Arizona in the 1st half as the Wildcats rotated defender after defender onto him. Arizona finally found one in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson a few minutes before halftime. It was a move that slowed the Badgers offense – Arizona went into halftime up three – but Bo Ryan quickly noticed that Dekker had a big advantage against whoever tried to defend him, and the junior went off.

Wisconsin went on a 14-3 run to start the second half and never trailed again.

Wisconsin had a shooting night for the ages – 55.6% on field goals, 66.7 % on three-pointers and only 74% from the foul line. That came against the 3rd best defense in the country.

Arizona actually played extremely well offensively – shooting 55.8% from the field and a blistering 93.3% from the foul line (28-of-30) but foul trouble and the insanely hot shooting by Wisconsin ended the Wildcats’ season one game short of the Final Four again.

Arizona’s Stanley Johnson, one of the best freshman in the country, fouled out and had more turnovers (3) than baskets (2). He finished with just six points.

Wisconsin will play the winner of Kentucky and Notre Dame next Saturday in the Final 4.