Wisconsin parents, fans react to thrilling upset of Kentucky

INDIANAPOLIS — The Wisconsin Badgers have advanced to a place they haven't been in 74 years: on the brink of a college basketball national championship.
Wisconsin's rousing 71-64 victory against previously unbeaten Kentucky on Saturday night in the Final Four places the Badgers opposite Duke on Monday night for the crown.
As Badger Nation celebrated around the state, the parents of the hoops heroes inside Lucas Oil Stadium cheered, hugged, high-fived and got ready for the biggest game in school history since 1941, the only year Wisconsin has been champion.
Sheboygan's Sam Dekker again played a starring role striking for 16 points, hitting key shots down the stretch and drawing a charge call that helped seal the victory. His father Todd, mother Carol, sister Hannah and brother John took in history. The team that fell a game short of playing for it all a year ago, against these same Wildcats, had survived and advanced.
"I thought about last year's team, what those guys went through," Todd Dekker said. "I felt so proud for those guys and all they have accomplished."
"I was thinking this is unbelievable," said Dan Ferris of Appleton, father of freshman guard Matt Ferris. "No one thought we could do it. Now we are in the national championship game against Duke.
"I think that's what makes it even more special. Last week it was North Carolina Then we got through Arizona. Now we got through Kentucky. It's fitting to play Duke in the national championship."
Golf legend Andy North was in house to enjoy the victory. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers touted the accomplishment on Twitter.
Hours after the triumph, Wisconsin players and coaches were feted by a sea of of red-clad fans at their team hotel.
The Badgers, making their fourth Final Four appearance and second in a row under coach Bo Ryan, have already enjoyed a Big Ten regular-season championship, the league tournament crown and now the win over the Wildcats, the prohibitive favorites to capture this year's NCAA tournament.
Wisconsin's next mountain to climb comes in the form of the Blue Devils (34-4) and coach Mike Krzyzewski, the author of four national championships.
"There's unfinished business," said Dan Moesch of Green Bay, father of redshirt freshman forward Aaron Moesch. We've shown that we can beat the best. Now we will have to do it again. To be the best you have to beat the best.
"That's the ultimate goal. That's what you shoot for. If you can make that happen, it doesn't get any better."
The Badgers (36-3) will have Sunday to scheme how they will try to counteract Duke's 7-foot standout Jahlil Okafor, power forward Justise Winslow and sharpshooting guard Quinn Cook.
Having taken down supposedly unbeatable Kentucky (38-1) gives them nothing but confidence.
"It's all about believing, having the faith," Dan Moesch said. "It's awesome."
So Monday brings a date with destiny, a chance at immortality. It marks the first time two top-seeded teams have met for the championship since 2008, Memphis vs. Kansas.
"It's great for the program, the university and the state of Wisconsin," Todd Dekker said. "We've been solid but haven't been able to go all the way. Now we have the chance to win it all."
It also affords an opportunity to add to the Madison trophy case the most coveted of hardware: The John R. Wooden NCAA National Championship trophy.
"It would reaffirm that the work that's been done for the last several years has brought this program to that national level," Dan Ferris said." They've taken a greater step. This is the next step to show what they can do."
PHOTOS: Best of Wisconsin-Kentucky