Dekker's 3, Elite Eight game all the rage, earns QB Rodgers' praise

Published Mar. 28, 2015 9:13 p.m. ET

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Phil Kropoth

Wisconsin beat Arizona in the Elite Eight 85-78 on Saturday in Los Angeles, and junior Sam Dekker played no small part in the outcome.

Of the 27 points he put on the board, perhaps none were more important than the clutch 3-pointer he drilled over Arizona's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson with 20 seconds remaining. How, exactly, Dekker evaded the defender's hand is hard to figure out, but the high arc found net and put the Badgers up 84-76. Here, have a look:

That triple essentially punched UW's ticket to the Final Four in Indianapolis next weekend. Understandably, Dekker's play caught the eye of a few other guys who are pretty good at sports.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who can be seen flipping his lid in the video above, made his way down to the court to give Dekker props after the big win.

Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin chimed in with some feedback:

Dekker responded:

Former Duke and NBA star Jay Williams provided this analysis:

Even a major leaguer with almost the same last name, Mets outfielder Matt den Dekker, shared some congrats despite ...

Here's a few more postgame tweets for fun. 

This is nothing new to Dekker and his fans though. Back in high school, he scored 40 points, including a game-winning 3, to lift Sheboygan Lutheran to a Wisconsin state title.

If Dekker's confidence wasn't already at an all-time high — and it appears it is — this should push it over the top.

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