Frank Kaminsky, The Most Unlikely NPOY Ever?

[Tugg Speedman]

Just saw a spot on FS1 where they noted that Kaminsky statistical had the worst non-injured first year of college** to then go on and win the National Player of the Year.  They concluded he might be the biggest surprise, or the most improved college player of all-time.


Freshman Year
Games Stated = 0
Average Minutes = 7.7
Points Per Game = 1.8
High in points = 9 against UMKC
3pt% .286
FT% = .500

Sophomore Year
Games Stated = 2
Average Minutes = 10.3
Points Per Game = 4.2
High in points = 19 against Ill
3pt% .311
FT% = .767

Junior Year
Games Stated = 38
Average Minutes = 27.2
Points Per Game = 13.9
High in points = 43  against North Dakota (Bucky School Record)
3pt% .378
FT% = .765


Senior Year (with one more to play)
Games Stated = 38
Average Minutes = 33.5
Points Per Game = 18.7
High in points = 31 against MSU
3pt% .412
FT% = .778


** = Freshman year or Sophomore year when Freshman were ineligible or prop 48 was still in effect.

[HutchwasClutch]

I said it before, lighthing struck the Badger program with his incredible development from sophomore to junior year.  Not even the most optimistic Badger fan could honestly have predicted in their wildest dreams the player he's developed into, much less national POY. 

If he would have just been another Jared Berggren, which was the path he was trending just slightly better than after his first two years, they don't sniff back to back FF, let alone a spot in Monday night's title game.  Kaminsky wasn't even trending toward a Jon Leuer UW career after his first two years.

[Boozemon Barro]

Gold jacket, green jacket, who gives a crap.

[WarriorPride68]

I said it before, lighthing struck the Badger program with his incredible development from sophomore to junior year.  Not even the most optimistic Badger fan could honestly have predicted in their wildest dreams the player he's developed into, much less national POY. 

We all hate to say it. But Bo Ryan deserves mad props

[4everwarriors]

One hell of a player. Tremendous player development from freshman year on. Big man's game, ai na?

[Tugg Speedman]

We all hate to say it. But Bo Ryan deserves mad props

So Kaminsky effort, and dumb luck, played no part?  Do you also think lottery winners have a skill in picking power ball numbers?

Like I said in the other thread, three years ago Bucky lead the nation in free-throw percentage.  We had thread after thread about what a free-throw guru Bo was and what a mistake it was for Brent to not practice them.

Then all the good FT shooters graduated (unless they were black) and Bucky became very average in this category.

You greatly underestimate how much blind luck plays in these things.  He could just as easily picked Northwestern and we'd be talking about he is their first all-American, lead them to their first NCAA bid, and become their first NBA player in many years.  While Kaminsky is doing this at NU, Bucky is exiting after the S16 for the second year.

[wadesworld]

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[brewcity77]

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[WarriorInNYC]

I saw this on twitter somewhere, I think it was something that McIlvaine retweeted.  But here is Kaminsky, who after his sophomore year has only started 2 games, averaging 10.3 minutes and 4.2 points.  We see many players with similar playing time and point production these days transfer because they are unhappy with their situation. 

And yet, here Kaminsky becomes the NPOY.  Now, he obviously had a ridiculous jump his sophomore year to junior year that rarely ever happens, but still something to consider

[Benny B]

When I first heard something about "Kaminski" four years ago, I honestly thought to myself, "I didn't know he had any eligibility left."

I confused him with J.P. Gavinski.

[wadesworld]

One hell of a player. Tremendous player development from freshman year on. Big man's game, ai na?

Just ask Tyus Jones.