Currently: - Game info: 7:10 pm EST Thu Mar 27, 2003
MINNEAPOLIS (TICKER) —Top-seeded Kentucky takes its 25-game winning streak into the Midwest Region semifinals on Thursday when it faces No. 5 Wisconsin at the Metrodome.
Kentucky (31-3) is on its longest winning streak since it captured 27 straight during its national championship season in 1996. The Wildcats have outscored their opponents by over 17 points in this streak.
This is the eighth time in nine seasons that Kentucky has reached the regional semifinals. The Wildcats have lost their last two “Sweet 16” games since defeating Miami of Ohio in 1999.
Kentucky is 30-6 all-times in domes, including three wins in the Louisiana Superdome in the Southeastern Conference tournament. The next four games for Kentucky if it reaches the national championship are in domed stadiums.
Keith Bogans leads the way for Kentucky with his 16.0 scoring average. Bogans is fourth on the all-time scoring list for the Wildcats behind Dan Issel, Kenny Walker and Jack “Goose” Givens.
The Wildcats have used superior defense in their last five games, holding each opponent to below 40 percent shooting.
The last loss for Kentucky was an 81-63 defeat to Louisville on December 28.
Wisconsin (24-7) needed Freddie Owen’s 3-pointer with one second left to cap a stunning 16-2 closing run for a 61-60 victory over Tulsa in the second round. The Badgers rallied from a 58-45 deficit with 4:07 remaining.
Mike Wilkinson led Wisconsin with 18 points and eight rebounds and Devin Harris added 12 points. The Badgers survived despite a sub-par outing from Kirk Penney, who made 2-of-12 shots for six points.
This is the third time in four years that Wisconsin is facing a top-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers lost to eventual national champions Maryland and Michigan State in 2002 and 2000, respectively, and also defeated Arizona in the 2000 tournament.
Penney, who played on Wisconsin’s 2000 Final Four team, is averaging 16.1 points per game to lead the team. Penney is shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc this year.
Wisconsin is 2-0 in its last two visits to Minneapolis with a pair of wins over Big Ten rival Minnesota, including a 69-61 victory on March 2.
Kentucky is 2-1 against Wisconsin, posting a 72-64 victory on November 27, 1976 in the last matchup.
The winner advances to meet Pittsburgh or Marquette on Saturday.