Wisconsin Badgers basketball all-time starting five
The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program has been among college basketball’s most consistently successful programs during the past two decades and counting.
The people in Wisconsin have Midwestern values. They’re blue collar, hard hat, lunch pail people that appreciate an honest day’s work. They want to see a reflection of themselves on the court, and the Badgers men’s basketball program has given them exactly that.
While Wisconsin isn’t on the same tier as college basketball’s blue-blood programs, it has put together a rather impressive resume of its own:
National Championships: 1 (1941)
Final Four Appearances: 4 (1941, 2000, 2014, 2015)
Elite Eight Appearances: 6 (1941, 1947, 2000, 2005, 2014, 2015)
Sweet Sixteen Appearances: 10 (2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Achieving this kind of success required high level coaching, but it also took a handful of extraordinary players capable of elevating the program to new heights.
That begs the question, who would make up Wisconsin basketball’s all-time starting five? Today at the BadgersWire we’re going to unpack who those players should be, and their credentials:
Point Guard, Devin Harris
Devin Harris #34 of the University Wisconsin Badgers dribbles during the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Ohio State University Buckeyes at the United Center on March 14, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Wisconsin 58-50. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
2004 Big Ten Player of the Year
2004 Wooden Award All-American – finalist for the Wooden, Naismith, Rupp and USBWA Player of the Year awards
2004 Second-team AP All-American
2004 Cousy Award runner-up (nation’s top point guard)
Drafted No. 5 overall in 2004 NBA Draft
Shooting Guard, Johnny Davis
Johnny Davis #1 of the Wisconsin Badgers looks on in the second half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on Feb. 8, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
2022 Lute Olson National Player of the Year
2022 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year
2022 First-Team All-American (consensus)
2022 AP Big Ten Player of the Year
2022 Big Ten Player of the Year
2022 First-Team All-Big Ten honoree
Wooden Award All-American, finalist
Naismith Trophy finalist
Small Forward, Michael Finley
Wisconsin Badgers guard Michael Finley (24) on the court against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Assembly Hall. USA TODAY Sports
Three-time Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American
1993 and 1995 first-team All-Big Ten
Second-team All-Big Ten in 1994
Only player in UW history to score 500 points in three different seasons
Only player in UW history to average more than 20 ppg in three different seasons
First-round draft choice (21st overall) of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns in 1995
Power Forward, Alando Tucker
March 3, 2007; Madison; Wisconsin Badgers forward (42) Alando Tucker celebrates after scoring during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin defeated Michigan State 52-50. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2007 Jeff Hanisch
Program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,217 points
Consensus first-team All-American as a senior in 2007
Big Ten Player of the Year in 2007
Finalist for National Player of the Year award 2007
Two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection
Center, Frank Kaminsky
Mar 22, 2015; Omaha, Nebraska; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) celebrates after making a basket against the Oregon Ducks during the second half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at CenturyLink Center. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
2015 Wooden Award Winner
2015 Naismith Trophy Winner
2015 Oscar Robertson Trophy Winner
2015 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Winner (Center of the Year)
2014-15 AP, Sporting News & USA Today National POY
2014-15 Consensus First-Team All-American
2014-15 Big Ten Player of the Year
2014-15 First-Team All-Big Ten
2014 First-Team All-Big Ten
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