Wisconsin Basketball: Remembering Frank Kaminsky’s collegiate career
The Culmination: Frank Kaminsky as a senior (2014-15)
With the team returning most of their talent for the 2014-15 campaign, Wisconsin knew for certain they were going to be in a great position to be back in the Final Four. Frank the Tank was just coming on and with an overall more experienced team, the Badgers were a preseason favorite to go te distance.
What actually happened was something very few were expecting. During the campaign, Frank Kaminsky became the BIGGEST thing the Wisconsin basketball program has ever seen. Everyone seemed to fall in love with the seven-footer from Illinois and it was his season to shine.
The 2014-15 season will be one Badgers fans will never forget. Specifically, 2015 will probably be Frank Kaminsky’s best year of his life. It started with Frank being named by just about every outlet as the preseason player of the year. He was on everyone’s All-American lists and just about every possible watch list.
From there, he went on to exceed expectations in more ways than anyone ever dreamed of. He averaged 18.8 points per game, 8.2 boards, 1.5 blocks and shot 42 3-pointers in one of the greatest seasons a Wisconsin Badger basketball player has ever had. The only time he failed to score in double-figures was in an ugly win over Georgetown.
Then, as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Kaminsky followed his regular season numbers to have an even better Tournament, averaging 22 points per game. Wisconsin met Arizona once again in the Elite Eight and had no problem putting them away and reaching the Final Four.
After soon as the Badgers beat those Wildcats, a Final Four rematch with the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats loomed.
Before the rematch would go down, Frank cleaned up at the College Basketball Awards Show. When the Badgers defeated Arizona, he was named to the All-Region team. Then came the AP Player of the Year, Big Ten Player of the Year, and NABC Player of the Year. He also collected the Naismith, Rupp, Sporting News, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, USBWA, and Wooden Awards. Kaminsky was no doubt the King of College basketball.
He lived up to his preseason hype and it was time to do what the team wanted since falling to Kentucky the year prior. Beat the Wildcats. Obviously, it was going to be a battle. The Wildcats were undefeated and some say it was the greatest team of all-time. Yet, the Badgers were hungry and ready.
At halftime, the score proved nothing as the teams were tied at 36. From there, the Badgers went on to play the most exciting basketball the program has ever seen. Four Badgers scored in double-figures. Gasser only scored three, but he was rarely the big-time scorer. He was the defensive specialist and he helped lock down the young Wildcats.
The leading scorer for the game was none other than the Player of the Year. Frank the Tank showed a national audience why everyone voted for him. He dropped 20 points on 75% from the floor while grabbing 11 boards and blocking two shots.
“And the Wisconsin Badgers have made it to Monday day! They will play for all of it. They will play for the National Championship.” -Wayne Larrivee
Wisconsin came out with the seven-point victory and was headed to the title game for the first time since 1941. It was the greatest moment any Badger fan has ever experienced. Not only did they punch their ticket to the National Championship but they ended Kentucky’s winning streak.
Wisconsin also got to watch one of their best players have a Final Four game to remember. His personality is what made things so much better. Frank Kaminsky was a true entertainer on and off the court. Everyone will admit that the game two days later stung and still does to this day, but what we witnessed that night was better than anything we had ever before.
For a night, though, the Wisconsin Badgers made history, punched their ticket to the National Championship, and had the best player in the country leading the way. They did it the right way. Frank “The Tank” Kaminsky helped fuel the best night in program history.