Badgers dominate Spartans in Big Ten-clinching win

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Bo Ryan posed a playful question after the game while glancing at the box score.

"Who's that Kaminsky guy?" the Wisconsin coach asked.

That would be Frank Kaminsky, the athletic senior who had the best night of his impressive season in his last home game with the fifth-ranked Badgers.

Kaminsky scored 31 points, Nigel Hayes added 14 and Wisconsin clinched at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season title with a 68-61 victory Sunday over Michigan State.

"To go out on Senior Day and win a Big Ten title . . . was unbelievable," Kaminsky said.

The 7-footer finished 11 of 17 from the field and displayed the ball-handling skills of a guard. He sidestepped defenders to get to the hoop and hit three 3-pointers.

Kaminsky also came up with big plays down the stretch to thwart the Spartans' comeback attempt from a 22-point deficit.

Bryn Forbes' open 3 from the corner got Michigan State within 64-53 with about 2:30 left.

Coach Tom Izzo's club had no answer for Kaminsky.

Kaminsky banked a short jumper off the glass for a 13-point lead with 1:52 left for Wisconsin (26-3, 14-2) before blocking a shot on the other end to whip the crowd into a frenzy.

Kaminsky is "no question the best player in the country this year," Izzo said.

He called Kaminsky the best player that he had seen in the league since Glenn Robinson starred Purdue in the 1990s.

"He's the most versatile kid that our league has seen in a long, long time," Izzo said about Kaminsky.

Forbes finished with 21 points for the Spartans, who lost their second straight.

One more win gives the Badgers the outright Big Ten title.

"When you do get a piece of one, it reminds you of how much work it takes to get to that position," Ryan said.

Kaminsky led the way. "Frank the Tank!" yelled the student section after Kaminsky's big second-half plays.