This year, both Kaminsky and the Badgers have grown up and the results have been tremendous.
Kaminsky, who led the Badgers with 14.1 points per game this year, launched himself into the national spotlight on Saturday at the Honda Center with a dominant 28-point, 11-rebound performance in a dramatic 64-63 overtime win over top-seeded Arizona that propelled UW to its first Final Four since 2000.
The Lisle, Ill. native, who enjoyed an efficient 11-for-20 shooting night, was the only UW player in any kind of rhythm in a game in which the other four Badgers starters went shot a combined 29 percent from the field. It turned out that he was all Wisconsin would need.
“Kaminsky made some great plays,” said Sean Miller, Arizona’s coach. “He’s a difficult match‑up. Got to be one of the best offensive players who plays college basketball, for sure. We knew that, and that’s why we tried to have the game plan that we had. Obviously, it was almost as if he had a big night and we tried to shut everybody else down.”
The 7-foot, 234-pound forward scored six of the Badgers’ 10 points in the extra session, including a jumper with 2:22 to go that gave Wisconsin the lead for good.
After playing spotty minutes a year ago, few expected Kaminsky to be making huge plays in an Elite Eight game this year, but the forward was not surprised.
“I knew that this year there would be an opportunity for me to go out there and play a lot of minutes, and I just wanted to do anything I could to be a big factor on this team,” said Kaminsky when asked about his vast improvement from a season ago.
“My teammates did a great job of always involving me in things and wanting the best for me. We all want the best for each other.”
Kaminsky’s breakout season did not come as a shock to his coach, Bo Ryan, either.
“He’s continued to work hard in the weight room,” said Ryan, who will be making his first appearance in the Final Four as Wisconsin’s head coach. “He’s continued to work on his conditioning and his diet, so his stamina has increased and he’s growing into his body, mentally, physically, socially.”
Miller was blunt in his assessment of the performance that knocked his Wildcats from the tournament.
“Frank Kaminsky is the reason Wisconsin’s in the Final Four,” Miller said.
Obviously, Wisconsin isn’t a one-man show. Both forward Sam Dekker and guard Ben Brust made were named All-Big Ten and point guard Traevon Jackson has averaged 10 points and generally has been a spark plug.
Kaminsky, though, has been the catalyst and the biggest reason that Wisconsin has finally gotten over the hump after years of good-but-not-great teams under Ryan. Now, the Badgers find themselves just two wins away from their second National Championship and first since 1941.
In order to have a chance to play for that title, Wisconsin will first have to get through John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats, an 8-seed that no one wants to play right now. Kaminsky will be tasked with keeping Kentucky super-frosh Julius Randle off the offensive glass and helping when twin guards Aaron and Andrew Harrison make their forays to the basket.
Regardless of whether Wisconsin ends up winning a national title in 2014, Kaminsky’s improvement this year has been nothing short of remarkable. In one year, he went from playing to 10 minutes per game to being the premier player on a Final Four squad. Bring on Kentucky. Bring on the NBA.
Dylan Sinn is a freelance contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSinn or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
