Kentucky vs. Wisconsin

Wisconsin is not getting the respect they deserve. They are the higher seeded team instilled as an underdog here. But the Badgers are hot at the right time, having won 12 of their last 14 games. This team has great balance with 6-8 sophomore Sam Dekker (14 points per game) and 7-foot junior Frank Kaminsky (13 ppg, 6 rpg) up front, plus a veteran backcourt of senior guard Ben Burst (13 ppg) and junior Traevon Jackson (11 ppg). You take away one area of the Badgers offense and they have plenty of punch elsewhere on which to fall back. This Kentucky team was good in SEC play defensively and at the free throw line, but not great in field goal shooting defense (ranked #6 in the SEC) and #7 in scoring defense. And they were very weak at defending the three allowing .319% shooting (#11 in the SEC). By contrast, Wisconsin ranked second in the Big 10 at the line (75%). Wisconsin has outstanding ball movement and unselfish play from being together so long. Meanwhile Kentucky is the first team to start five freshmen in an Elite 8 win since Michigan in 1992. This is the point in which I think their youth catches up with them. The Badgers have not lost to a non-Big 10 team this year, and some of their early season wins were over fellow NCAA Sweet 16 teams Florida (59-53) and Virginia (48-38). Wisconsin is 16-4 straight-up in road games this year and 12-5 ATS in road games vs. winning teams and 7-1 ATS in neutral-court games this season. They are also on a 10-1 ATS run in non-conference games. Play Wisconsin to advance to the Finals.