SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- To those who saw it, there was nothing fluky about eighth-seeded Wisconsin's 66-59 victory over top-seeded Arizona. The Badgers did the same things they have been doing to opponents all season, with one exception: they turned it down a notch.

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Defense and dirty work always come first with Dick Bennett. Those who don't buy into his philosophy, and many don't have the stomach for it, play elsewhere.

His system isn't pretty and requires patience and sacrifice. Bennett gladly overlooks talent for guts and heart -- they're the staples of his program.

Saturday afternoon at the Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah, it finally paid off for Bennett and his players. The speedy but young Wildcats knew what was coming and had no answers. Wisconsin dictated the deliberate tempo from start to finish, made life miserable in the paint and screened Arizona to death.

For the small but noisy group of cheeseheads on hand, it was a thing of beauty.

"It was very obvious that the better team won this from the standpoint of maturity and toughness," said losing coach Lute Olson. "It's a tough lesson to learn. They did an unbelievable job inside with their big guys."

Even without starting center Loren Woods, the Wildcats thought Michael Wright, Richard Jefferson and Justin Wessel could exploit the Badgers, but it never happened. In the first half, Wright made 1 of 2 shots and the foul-plagued Jefferson didn't get off any. Wright finished with two points while Jefferson had seven.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin's unheralded frontcourt of center Mark Vershaw and forwards Duany Duany and Andy Kowske combined for 24 points. When guard Mike Kelley encountered first-half foul trouble, backup Maurice Linton responded with 14 points.

"I'm not sure I can adequately describe what this means to us," Bennett said. "They accepted the game plan and employed it as close to the letter as was humanly possible. To defend a great offensive team like Arizona is something I'll remember for a long, long time."

So will his players. All bought into his scheme long ago. Never mind the one-and-outs in the NCAA Tournament in 1997 and 1999, at least they got there.

"It's just what he puts first," Kelley said of Bennett. "He instills it from the day we get on campus that defense comes first. I'm not sure that's the same around the country. It just gets in your head."

And in your opponent's mind. The Badgers do a great job of helping out and double-teaming. They are constantly poking at the ball, banging and moving, and seldom allow easy shots. In the first half, the Wildcats plucked seven offensive rebounds and cashed them in for only two points.

Slowly but surely, Arizona wore down. After going 0-of-7 from three-point range in the first half, it finished 5 of 17. Arenas kept the 'Cats in contention with a game-high 21 points, but fellow freshman Jason Gardner was 3-of-11 from the field and overmatched.

"Pride is a good word," Kelley said, when asked to describe the win. "We came out with a lot of confidence. We felt we could beat Arizona. He's (Bennett) taken his shots for his system, but we've always defended him."

Wisconsin's Mark Vershaw (50) and Maurice Linton wave to the school song after beating Arizona.(AP)

Saturday, the Wildcats got the message.

"You gotta give Wisconsin a lot of credit," said Wright. "They were very physical."

And no, losing wasn't fun.

"It hurts a lot,'' he said. "Wisconsin just out-played us. It's real sad.''

Not in Madison. First a Rose Bowl victory and now the Sweet 16. Players couldn't wait to get home and celebrate.

"I hope it's crazy on campus," Kelley said. "It's been a long time coming."

After tough Big Ten losses to Indiana and Ohio State, Bennett wasn't sure what to make of this mostly upper-classmen bunch. Experience is one thing, trust and perseverance. After a two-point home defeat to the Buckeyes, he sensed his team was the ropes.

"I just said, 'You gotta keep knocking fellas. You can't crack as unit,'" said Bennet. "We're used to hearing 'ugly wins.' We had a little bit of siege mentality."

The Badgers kept plodding, never stopped believing and finished strong. Now look where they are headed.

"It's indescribable," Kowske said. "Coming in here as the eight-seed and to go through what we've been through this year ... it's the best feeling in the world."