Today, April 4, 2025, marks the 10th anniversary of Wisconsin basketball's greatest moment.
The final score of Badgers 71, Kentucky 64 should jog the memory. If not, it is also commonly known as the '38-1 game.' Wisconsin defeated then-undefeated Kentucky in the 2015 Final Four, ending what had the chance to be the greatest season in college basketball history.
Every layer of context adds to the gravity of the result. Wisconsin had lost to Kentucky 74-73 in the Final Four the year prior, as guard Traevon Jackson's buzzer-beater attempt clanged off the rim. The Badgers returned nearly their entire team entering 2014-15, including stars Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker, plus leading role players Bronson Koenig, Nigel Hayes and Josh Gasser. A return trip to the Final Four was the preseason expectation.
The 2015 Badgers coasted through the regular season, captured the Big Ten title, won the Big Ten Tournament, then, against the odds, returned to the Final Four. They did so with dramatic tournament wins over Oregon (second round), North Carolina (Sweet 16) and Arizona (Elite Eight). Awaiting Bo Ryan's team were the 38-0 Wildcats, led by future NBA stars Devin Booker and Karl Anthony-Towns, plus veteran Aaron Harrison, who hit the late three-pointer to eliminate the Badgers in 2014.
Wisconsin fans likely know what followed when the two teams took the court. The Badgers recorded arguably the greatest moment in program history, while Kentucky's undefeated season fell two wins short of a title.
For those looking to relive the game's deciding moments:
Or, if anyone has time to rewatch the full game:
So many signature moments from the game stand out, none more than Dekker's tie-breaking three-pointer with 1:40 remaining and his subsequent charge on the defensive end just 15 seconds later.
Since the Badgers' magic fell short against Duke in the national title game, their Final Four triumph over undefeated Kentucky should be the lasting memory from the greatest season in program history.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball Kentucky Final Four win 10 year anniversary
