INDIANAPOLIS -- 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: They knocked off the Wildcats 71-64 on Saturday night behind 20 points and 11 rebounds from birthday boy Frank Kaminsky and a clutch comeback down the stretch.
Now, instead of Kentucky going for history, it's Wisconsin heading to the final Monday night to play Duke. The Badgers lost 80-70 to Duke in a December meeting in Madison.
The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and Station Casinos made the spread for the final a pick 'em. The over/under was set at 141 by the Westgate.
"I just feel like we wanted to win the national title, and we didn't do it," Wildcats freshman Tyler Ulis said. "So the season was a waste."
Some of the Kentucky players skulked off without shaking their opponents' hands.
The Wildcats close the season at 38-1 -- two wins short of becoming the first undefeated team in college basketball since the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers. Instead, this NBA-ready group joins the star-studded 1991 UNLV team as the latest to take an undefeated record into the Final Four but lose in the semifinals.
"I've had some tough losses and some unbelievable wins at the buzzer," coach John Calipari said. "My concern is that these guys keep it in perspective. They just had an historic year. If you want to blame anyone, blame me."
Plenty of folks will take pleasure in that.
Trending on Twitter shortly after the buzzer: "38-and-Done." And "38-and-1."
All easy pickins for the many detractors of Calipari's group of "One and Done" players, All-Americans and other future first-rounders and lottery picks.
But there's more than one program sending players to the NBA -- more than one team that keeps on fighting even when things look bleak.
Wisconsin had every reason to turtle, going without a point for six minutes during an 8-0 Kentucky run that put the Wildcats up by four and left the Badgers gasping for breath and resting their hands on their knees.
Instead, they answered the Kentucky run with an 8-0 run of their own to set up the pullaway. It was a Kentucky-like effort, the kind the Wildcats pulled off yet again last week in a two-point win over Notre Dame in the regional final that made them look more gritty than invincible.
"I think you guys have seen that all year," Wisconsin senior Sam Dekker said. "Whether we're down six or up 20, we're going to be us, and we're going to play our game."
Dekker, a future NBAer himself, did most of the damage during Wisconsin's comeback and eventual pullaway.
He started the run with bucket from the paint over Trey Lyles, then Nigel Hayes tied the game by tipping in an air ball after the 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 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 Koenig went 7 for 8 from the line over the last 24 seconds to seal the win.
"Best birthday present I've ever had," Kaminsky said.
Kentucky's last, best chance came while trailing by three with 12 seconds left. But Karl-Anthony Towns, who led the Wildcats with 16 points and nine rebounds, received the ball in the post and got fouled. He made only one free throw, and from there, Wisconsin iced it from the line.
Some stats that made the difference: Wisconsin shot 47.9 percent from the floor -- 13 points higher than what Kentucky allowed this season -- and went 10 for 20 from 3-point range. The Badgers, ranked 262nd in the country in offensive rebounding this season, finished with 12 to only six for Kentucky. It helped explain how Kentucky could lose despite shooting 48 percent itself and committing only six turnovers.
Junior Willie Cauley-Stein, a key to Kentucky's success this year, finished with two points and five rebounds.
Calipari said the pressure of being perfect wasn't the difference in this one.
"I think what impacted the game was the most was Wisconsin and how they play," he said.
A bunch of Wildcats tugged at their jerseys and walked slowly off the court -- losers for the first time this season, and the first time since last year's final against UConn. A few, like Towns, Cauley-Stein and Lyles, will be first-round picks if they leave college for the NBA's millions.
They wanted a title, too.
"We didn't care about the record," Towns said. "We just cared about the trophy that came with it."
Information from The Associated Press and ESPN.com's David Purdum was used in this report.



Final

(1) Wisconsin 71

(36-3, 16-2 Big Ten)

(1) Kentucky 64

(38-1, 18-0 SEC)




9:06PM,EDT,April 4,2015
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana


1 2 T
#1WIS 36 3571
#1UK 36 2864
Top Performers
Wisconsin: F. Kaminsky 20 Pts, 11 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 Blk
Kentucky: K. Towns 16 Pts, 9 Reb, 1 Ast, 1 Stl, 1 Blk

Complete Play-By-Play

1 | 2 | All
 

1st Half Summary

TIMEWISCONSINSCOREKENTUCKY
20:00 0-0Jump Ball won by Kentucky
19:40 0-3Andrew Harrison made Three Point Jumper.
19:17Frank Kaminsky Turnover.0-3 
19:17 0-3Karl-Anthony Towns Steal.
19:12 0-5Willie Cauley-Stein made Dunk. Assisted by Andrew Harrison.
18:45Nigel Hayes missed Jumper.0-5 
18:45Nigel Hayes Offensive Rebound.0-5 
18:42 0-5Foul on Trey Lyles.
18:42Nigel Hayes made Free Throw.1-5 
18:42Nigel Hayes made Free Throw.2-5 
18:17 2-5Willie Cauley-Stein missed Jumper.
18:17Josh Gasser Defensive Rebound.2-5 
17:48Sam Dekker made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Frank Kaminsky.5-5 
17:27 5-7Karl-Anthony Towns made Layup.
16:55Bronson Koenig made Jumper.7-7 
16:29 7-7Trey Lyles missed Jumper.
16:29Frank Kaminsky Defensive Rebound.7-7 
16:14Nigel Hayes missed Three Point Jumper.7-7 
16:14 7-7Aaron Harrison Defensive Rebound.
16:06 7-9Andrew Harrison made Jumper.
15:48Sam Dekker made Jumper.9-9 
15:40 9-9Andrew Harrison Turnover.
15:40Bronson Koenig Steal.9-9 
15:27Frank Kaminsky missed Three Point Jumper.9-9 
15:27Josh Gasser Offensive Rebound.9-9 
15:21Josh Gasser missed Layup.9-9 
15:21 9-9Andrew Harrison Block.
15:21Wisconsin Offensive Rebound.9-9 
15:21 Official TV Timeout
14:55Sam Dekker missed Layup.9-9 
14:55 9-9Marcus Lee Defensive Rebound.
14:48 9-11Aaron Harrison made Layup. Assisted by Tyler Ulis.
14:28Frank Kaminsky Turnover.9-11 
13:54 9-11Tyler Ulis missed Jumper.
13:54Frank Kaminsky Defensive Rebound.9-11 
13:33Frank Kaminsky made Layup. Assisted by Traevon Jackson.11-11 
13:08 11-11Aaron Harrison missed Jumper.
13:08Josh Gasser Defensive Rebound.11-11 
12:50Duje Dukan made Jumper. Assisted by Frank Kaminsky.13-11 
12:39 13-11Dakari Johnson Turnover.
12:23Nigel Hayes made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Duje Dukan.16-11 
11:58 16-14Tyler Ulis made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Karl-Anthony Towns.
11:32Bronson Koenig missed Layup.16-14 
11:32Bronson Koenig Offensive Rebound.16-14 
11:27Bronson Koenig made Layup.18-14 
11:20Foul on Vitto Brown.18-14 
11:20 Official TV Timeout
10:52 18-14Trey Lyles missed Jumper.
10:52Frank Kaminsky Defensive Rebound.18-14 
10:36Frank Kaminsky made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Bronson Koenig.21-14 
10:33Kentucky Timeout
10:19 21-14Karl-Anthony Towns missed Jumper.
10:19Frank Kaminsky Defensive Rebound.21-14 
9:48Nigel Hayes missed Layup.21-14 
9:48 21-14Willie Cauley-Stein Defensive Rebound.
9:43Foul on Josh Gasser.21-14 
9:39 21-14Willie Cauley-Stein missed Jumper.
9:39Sam Dekker Defensive Rebound.21-14 
9:16Sam Dekker made Jumper.23-14 
9:16 23-14Foul on Aaron Harrison.
9:16Sam Dekker missed Free Throw.23-14 
9:16 23-14Karl-Anthony Towns Defensive Rebound.
9:06 23-14Foul on Karl-Anthony Towns.
9:06 23-14Karl-Anthony Towns Turnover.
8:41Sam Dekker missed Jumper.23-14 
8:41 23-14Karl-Anthony Towns Defensive Rebound.
8:32 23-16Andrew Harrison made Layup.
8:08Jump Ball won by Wisconsin23-16 
7:59Traevon Jackson missed Jumper.23-16 
7:59 23-16Willie Cauley-Stein Defensive Rebound.
7:41Foul on Duje Dukan.23-16 
7:41 Official TV Timeout
7:37 23-18Aaron Harrison made Layup.
7:19Frank Kaminsky made Jumper.25-18 
6:55 25-20Karl-Anthony Towns made Layup. Assisted by Andrew Harrison.
6:55Foul on Frank Kaminsky.25-20 
6:55 25-21Karl-Anthony Towns made Free Throw.
6:22Duje Dukan missed Three Point Jumper.25-21 
6:22Frank Kaminsky Offensive Rebound.25-21 
6:15Josh Gasser made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Traevon Jackson.28-21 
5:52Foul on Josh Gasser.28-21 
5:40 28-23Andrew Harrison made Jumper.
5:11 28-23Foul on Karl-Anthony Towns.
5:11Traevon Jackson made Free Throw.29-23 
5:11Traevon Jackson made Free Throw.30-23 
5:04 30-25Devin Booker made Jumper.
4:47Traevon Jackson Turnover.30-25 
4:37 30-25Andrew Harrison missed Jumper.
4:37 30-25Devin Booker Offensive Rebound.
4:11 30-27Andrew Harrison made Layup.
3:56Nigel Hayes missed Three Point Jumper.30-27 
3:56 30-27Willie Cauley-Stein Defensive Rebound.
3:46 30-27Devin Booker missed Jumper.
3:46Wisconsin Deadball Team Rebound.30-27 
3:43 Official TV Timeout
3:22Bronson Koenig missed Three Point Jumper.30-27 
3:22 30-27Trey Lyles Defensive Rebound.
3:09 30-29Trey Lyles made Jumper.
2:38Bronson Koenig missed Three Point Jumper.30-29 
2:38Nigel Hayes Offensive Rebound.30-29 
2:20 30-29Foul on Tyler Ulis.
2:18Frank Kaminsky made Dunk. Assisted by Zak Showalter.32-29 
2:03 32-31Aaron Harrison made Jumper.
2:03Foul on Bronson Koenig.32-31 
2:03 32-32Aaron Harrison made Free Throw.
1:40 32-32Foul on Dakari Johnson.
1:34Bronson Koenig missed Jumper.32-32 
1:34Nigel Hayes Offensive Rebound.32-32 
1:31 32-32Foul on Aaron Harrison.
1:31Nigel Hayes made Free Throw.33-32 
1:31Nigel Hayes made Free Throw.34-32 
1:14 34-32Dakari Johnson missed Layup.
1:14Frank Kaminsky Block.34-32 
1:14Bronson Koenig Defensive Rebound.34-32 
1:04Bronson Koenig missed Layup.34-32 
1:04 34-32Willie Cauley-Stein Defensive Rebound.
0:54Foul on Nigel Hayes.34-32 
0:54 34-33Trey Lyles made Free Throw.
0:54 34-34Trey Lyles made Free Throw.
0:37Zak Showalter Turnover.34-34 
0:37 34-34Andrew Harrison Steal.
0:33 34-36Trey Lyles made Dunk. Assisted by Andrew Harrison.
0:27Wisconsin Timeout
0:02Bronson Koenig made Jumper.36-36 
0:00End of 1st half
 

2nd Half Summary

TIMEWISCONSINSCOREKENTUCKY
20:00 36-36Jump Ball won by Kentucky
19:38 36-38Devin Booker made Layup.
19:14Frank Kaminsky made Layup.38-38 
19:04 38-40Karl-Anthony Towns made Jumper.
18:46Frank Kaminsky made Layup. Assisted by Sam Dekker.40-40 
18:31 40-40Karl-Anthony Towns missed Jumper.
18:31Bronson Koenig Defensive Rebound.40-40 
18:11Nigel Hayes made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Bronson Koenig.43-40 
17:56 43-42Devin Booker made Jumper.
17:37Frank Kaminsky Turnover.43-42 
17:37 43-42Tyler Ulis Steal.
17:31 43-44Karl-Anthony Towns made Dunk. Assisted by Willie Cauley-Stein.
17:06Frank Kaminsky made Jumper.45-44 
17:06 45-44Foul on Devin Booker.
17:06Frank Kaminsky made Free Throw.46-44 
16:53 46-44Willie Cauley-Stein missed Layup.
16:53Frank Kaminsky Block.46-44 
16:53Sam Dekker Defensive Rebound.46-44 
16:27Frank Kaminsky missed Jumper.46-44 
16:27 46-44Willie Cauley-Stein Defensive Rebound.
16:12 46-44Devin Booker missed Layup.
16:12Frank Kaminsky Defensive Rebound.46-44 
15:47Sam Dekker made Jumper.48-44 
15:47 48-44Foul on Devin Booker.
15:47 Official TV Timeout
15:47Sam Dekker made Free Throw.49-44 
15:31Foul on Sam Dekker.49-44 
15:05 49-44Karl-Anthony Towns missed Layup.
15:05Frank Kaminsky Defensive Rebound.49-44 
14:46Bronson Koenig made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Nigel Hayes.52-44 
14:41Kentucky Timeout
14:17 52-44Aaron Harrison missed Jumper.
14:17 52-44Karl-Anthony Towns Offensive Rebound.
14:12 52-44Karl-Anthony Towns missed Layup.
14:12 52-44Karl-Anthony Towns Offensive Rebound.
14:09 52-46Karl-Anthony Towns made Layup.
13:54Sam Dekker missed Three Point Jumper.52-46 
13:54 52-46Andrew Harrison Defensive Rebound.
13:40 52-46Willie Cauley-Stein Turnover.
13:09Bronson Koenig missed Three Point Jumper.52-46 
13:09Duje Dukan Offensive Rebound.52-46 
13:06 52-46Foul on Aaron Harrison.
13:02 52-46Foul on Devin Booker.
12:48Josh Gasser Turnover.52-46 
12:48 52-46Willie Cauley-Stein Steal.
12:31 52-49Tyler Ulis made Three Point Jumper.
12:03Frank Kaminsky missed Jumper.52-49 
12:03 52-49Willie Cauley-Stein Block.
12:03Wisconsin Offensive Rebound.52-49 
12:00Nigel Hayes Turnover.52-49 
12:00 52-49Tyler Ulis Steal.
11:47 52-49Devin Booker missed Jumper.
11:47Traevon Jackson Defensive Rebound.52-49 
11:37Traevon Jackson made Layup.54-49 
11:24 54-51Trey Lyles made Jumper.
11:24Foul on Nigel Hayes.54-51 
11:24 Official TV Timeout
11:24 54-52Trey Lyles made Free Throw.
11:02Josh Gasser Turnover.54-52 
10:47 54-52Andrew Harrison missed Jumper.
10:47Frank Kaminsky Defensive Rebound.54-52 
10:34 54-52Foul on Tyler Ulis.
10:34Traevon Jackson made Free Throw.55-52 
10:34Traevon Jackson made Free Throw.56-52 
10:10 56-52Trey Lyles missed Layup.
10:10Sam Dekker Defensive Rebound.56-52 
10:00Traevon Jackson missed Layup.56-52 
10:00Traevon Jackson Offensive Rebound.56-52 
9:57Jump Ball won by Wisconsin56-52 
9:51 56-52Foul on Andrew Harrison.
9:29Frank Kaminsky missed Three Point Jumper.56-52 
9:29 56-52Karl-Anthony Towns Defensive Rebound.
9:20Foul on Traevon Jackson.56-52 
9:20 56-53Andrew Harrison made Free Throw.
9:20 56-54Andrew Harrison made Free Throw.
8:44Bronson Koenig missed Jumper.56-54 
8:44 56-54Andrew Harrison Defensive Rebound.
8:29 56-56Karl-Anthony Towns made Layup. Assisted by Andrew Harrison.
8:01Foul on Josh Gasser.56-56 
8:01Josh Gasser Turnover.56-56 
7:51 56-58Aaron Harrison made Layup.
7:40Wisconsin Timeout
7:32 56-58Foul on Willie Cauley-Stein.
7:32 Official TV Timeout
7:32Frank Kaminsky missed Free Throw.56-58 
7:32 56-58Aaron Harrison Defensive Rebound.
7:14 56-58Aaron Harrison missed Jumper.
7:14 56-58Karl-Anthony Towns Offensive Rebound.
6:58 56-58Andrew Harrison missed Jumper.
6:58 56-58Karl-Anthony Towns Offensive Rebound.
6:37 56-60Karl-Anthony Towns made Jumper.
6:08Nigel Hayes missed Three Point Jumper.56-60 
6:08 56-60Aaron Harrison Defensive Rebound.
5:33 56-60Andrew Harrison missed Jumper.
5:33Nigel Hayes Defensive Rebound.56-60 
5:16Foul on Nigel Hayes.56-60 
5:16Nigel Hayes Turnover.56-60 
4:45 56-60Aaron Harrison missed Jumper.
4:45Frank Kaminsky Defensive Rebound.56-60 
4:28Sam Dekker made Jumper.58-60 
3:54 58-60Andrew Harrison missed Layup.
3:54 58-60Karl-Anthony Towns Offensive Rebound.
3:19 58-60Trey Lyles missed Jumper.
3:19Bronson Koenig Defensive Rebound.58-60 
3:16 Official TV Timeout
2:48Bronson Koenig missed Jumper.58-60 
2:48 58-60Willie Cauley-Stein Block.
2:48Wisconsin Offensive Rebound.58-60 
2:40Nigel Hayes missed Jumper.58-60 
2:40 58-60Karl-Anthony Towns Block.
2:40Nigel Hayes Offensive Rebound.58-60 
2:35Nigel Hayes made Layup.60-60 
2:25Kentucky Timeout
2:03 60-60Andrew Harrison missed Jumper.
2:03Frank Kaminsky Defensive Rebound.60-60 
1:44Sam Dekker made Three Point Jumper.63-60 
1:25 63-60Foul on Trey Lyles.
1:25 63-60Trey Lyles Turnover.
1:06 63-60Foul on Aaron Harrison.
1:06Sam Dekker made Free Throw.64-60 
1:06Sam Dekker missed Free Throw.64-60 
1:06 64-60Karl-Anthony Towns Defensive Rebound.
0:56 64-62Aaron Harrison made Layup.
0:56Foul on Frank Kaminsky.64-62 
0:56 64-63Aaron Harrison made Free Throw.
0:25 64-63Foul on Willie Cauley-Stein.
0:25Frank Kaminsky made Free Throw.65-63 
0:25Frank Kaminsky made Free Throw.66-63 
0:25Wisconsin Timeout
0:17Foul on Frank Kaminsky.66-63 
0:17 66-64Karl-Anthony Towns made Free Throw.
0:17 66-64Karl-Anthony Towns missed Free Throw.
0:17Frank Kaminsky Defensive Rebound.66-64 
0:13 66-64Foul on Andrew Harrison.
0:13Bronson Koenig made Free Throw.67-64 
0:13Bronson Koenig made Free Throw.68-64 
0:10Kentucky Timeout
0:08 68-64Aaron Harrison missed Three Point Jumper.
0:08Wisconsin Defensive Rebound.68-64 
0:06 68-64Foul on Aaron Harrison.
0:06Bronson Koenig missed Free Throw.68-64 
0:06Wisconsin Deadball Team Rebound.68-64 
0:06Bronson Koenig made Free Throw.69-64 
0:05 69-64Karl-Anthony Towns Turnover.
0:04 69-64Foul on Marcus Lee.
0:04Frank Kaminsky made Free Throw.70-64 
0:04Frank Kaminsky made Free Throw.71-64 
0:01 71-64Tyler Ulis missed Three Point Jumper.
0:01Josh Gasser Defensive Rebound.71-64 
0:00End of Game



Wisconsin Badgers
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Frank Kaminsky, F377-111-35-6110112023320
Sam Dekker, F346-92-32-40331000116
Nigel Hayes, F373-92-54-44151002312
Josh Gasser, G321-21-10-0134000333
Bronson Koenig, G314-121-43-41342100112
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Vitto Brown, F10-00-00-0000000010
Duje Dukan, F111-20-10-0101100012
Traevon Jackson, G121-30-04-4112200116
Zak Showalter, G50-00-00-0000100100
TOTALS
FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS

23-487-1718-221222341012101471

47.9%41.2%81.8%
Kentucky Wildcats
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Willie Cauley-Stein, F331-40-00-0055112122
Karl-Anthony Towns, F317-110-02-35491112216
Trey Lyles, F293-70-03-3011000129
Aaron Harrison, G275-100-12-20330000512
Andrew Harrison, G315-111-12-20224111213
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Dakari Johnson, C80-10-00-0000000110
Marcus Lee, F50-00-00-0011000010
Devin Booker, G193-60-00-0101000036
Tyler Ulis, G172-42-30-0000120026
TOTALS
FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS

26-543-59-106162275462064

48.1%60.0%90.0%
 Technical Fouls: PLAYERS: None - TEAMS: None
 Officials: Verne Harris, John Higgins, Doug Sirmons
 Attendance: 72,238