They may be prevented from placing a bet at a casino in Kentucky by stubborn rural lawmakers, but Gov. Steve Beshear and Attorney General Jack Conway are glad to put the Commonwealth’s best stuff on the line in bets with their counterparts in Wisconsin.
From Kentucky.gov…
Attorney General Jack Conway today announced that he will enter into a friendly wager with Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel over the outcome of Saturday night’s National Championship Semi-final game in Indianapolis between the undefeated and number one ranked University of Kentucky (UK) Wildcats and the number one seed and Big Ten Champion Wisconsin Badgers. If UK wins, Attorney General Schimel will give Attorney General Conway an assortment of Sargento Cheeses, Johnsonville Brats and Leinenkugel Beer. If Wisconsin wins, Conway will give Schimel a Meacham’s country ham from Union County, where Attorney General Conway’s father was born and raised.
“As much as I respect the athletes from the Kentucky Wildcats, I don’t think they will get their paws on the wonderful Wisconsin-made products I have wagered with AG Conway,” Schimel said. “Our faith in our ferocious Badgers is a bipartisan agreement throughout the state of Wisconsin.”
Conway responded by stating “Given that the game last year came down to a last second shot, the rematch tomorrow night will likely be a game for the ages. The Kentucky players, guided by National Coach of the Year John Calipari, have proven all season long that they will rise to any challenge, and we are all looking forward to taking on the Big Ten Champions. Congratulations to the Badgers on their second straight berth in the Final 4, but I look forward to celebrating a Kentucky victory over Wisconsin with brats, cheese and beer from Attorney General Schimel. Our Wildcats are on an historic roll. Here’s hoping for the continuation of a perfect season for UK that culminates with a ninth national title. Go CATS.”
The last time Wisconsin and UK met in men’s basketball was last year in the final four, when UK beat Wisconsin by one point on a long three-pointer by Aaron Harrison with six seconds left in the game. Many of the same players from that game return for the rematch including Wisconsin NCAA tourney superstars Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker. Kentucky returns the Harrison twins but also has a new cast of freshman playing in their first final four. Willie Cauley-Stein was on the team last season but was not able to play in the game due to injury. UK has four overall wins in the all-time series to Wisconsin’s one.
And from Beshear’s office:
Governor Steve Beshear and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker are wagering on their home teams in Saturday’s NCAA Final Four men’s basketball game.
Gov. Beshear bet a basket of Kentucky bourbons from Lexington-area distillers that the University of Kentucky will prevail over the University of Wisconsin. Bourbons are provided by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. Gov. Walker bet a basket of Wisconsin cheese, sausage and root beer that Wisconsin will beat Kentucky in the matchup.
“For the second year in a row, the Cats will be facing the Badgers in what is sure to be another thrilling Final Four game between the two teams,” said Gov. Beshear. “Kentucky has already made history with an undefeated season, and we’ll be rooting them on to continue the streak this weekend. Go Cats!”
