March 02--MADISON, Wis. -- On a day in which Wisconsin locked up at least a share of the Big Ten title with a 68-61 victory over Michigan State, Frank Kaminsky might have clinched the league's award as the top player.
Actually those who watched the Benet Academy product finish with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks want more for him.
"I've never been more impressed with a player in our league since 'Big Dog,'" Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said of Purdue's Glenn (CQ) Robinson, who averaged 30.3 points and 11.2 boards in 1993-94, his final season at Purdue. "I think Wisconsin is a Final Four team, and I'd like to give my early vote that Kaminsky is, no question, the best player in this country this year."
Kaminsky (11-for-17 shooting) showed up hours before tipoff on Senior Day, his final chance to play at the Kohl Center.
"I was alone with my thoughts," he said. "I wanted to do something special.
Wisconsin (26-3, 14-2) can clinch an outright Big Ten title and top seed in the conference tournament by beating Minnesota or Ohio State this week.
Michigan State, meanwhile, has lost two straight to fall to 19-10, 10-6. Izzo benched Branden (CQ) Dawson to fire up the senior forward, but he finished with just four points and two boards in 21 minutes.
"I'm (not) going to coach my team for the media, not for recruiting," Izzo said. "I'm going to coach it for what's right and what's wrong."
tgreenstein@tribpub.com
