The rematch didn’t quite live up to its billing.
A year ago, Wisconsin topped Arizona by one point in overtime to advance to the Final Four.
On Saturday, the top-seeded Badgers moved on again, coasting past the second-seeded Wildcats 85-78 in the West region final at Los Angeles.
The game was the first in more than 40 years to pit two teams who played each other In the Elite 8 the prior year.
A few minutes in, Saturday’s contest didn’t look like such a great game. Wisconsin had the faster slow start to grab an early 10-2. But Arizona turned up the defense and took a 33-30 lead at halftime.
After intermission it was a three-point party for the Badgers, who made 10 of 12 from deep as they pulled away for the seven-point victory.
Frank Kaminsky led the Badgers with 29 points while sizzling Sam Dekker continued his hot scoring with 27 points.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Brandon Ashley topped the Wildcats with 17 points each.
In the second game of the night, undefeated Kentucky was to meet streaking third-seeded Notre Dame in the Midwest Region final.
The winner of that game will play Wisconsin in the Final Four in one week at Indianapolis.
If the Badgers’ opponent is Kentucky, it’ll be another rematch for Wisconsin. In 2014, Wisconsin lost to Kentucky in a national semifinal 74-73.