Wisconsin basketball has been a face of consistency for the Big Ten for over 20 years. Regarding NCAA tournament appearances, the Badgers have been right behind Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans. They have long been a historic program as they were the Big Ten’s First NCAA Tournament champion in 1941. Since 1995, the Badgers have been fortunate to have three great coaches for the program.
It started with Dick Bennett who helped the Badgers reach their first Final Four since 1941. He was followed up by Bo Ryan who completely turned Wisconsin into a yearly contender in the Big Ten. He was able to reach back-to-back Final Fours in 2014 and 2015, with the latter resulting in a National runner-up finish. Greg Gard has since tried to continue the Badger tradition. Throughout the Badgers’ storied history, they have had plenty of important talent come through Madison. Here is who makes up the all-time Wisconsin basketball lineup.
Wisconsin Basketball: Badgers All-Time Starting Lineup
Guard: Devin Harris
Despite injury setbacks during high school, Devin Harris quickly showcased his potential during his senior season. Harris, from nearby Milwaukee, stayed home with the Badgers hoping to help get Wisconsin back to the Final Four when he arrived. The team was fresh off the 2000 Final Four appearance when Harris first stepped foot on campus, but rather than playing for Bennett, Ryan would be his coach for his standout career.
Despite low expectations for the Badgers in 2001-02, Harris and company shocked all, by capturing the Big Ten regular season championship. Harris was a starter that season, and it only helped him going into year two. Harris ,alongside Kirk Penney and Mike Wilkinson, helped lead Wisconsin to a second-straight Big Ten title. The team reached the Sweet 16 that season as well. Harris was ready to put himself among the nation’s elite in 2003-04, as he quickly became one of the best guards in the country. By the end of that campaign, Harris was the Big Ten Player of the Year, Big Ten Tournament MVP, and was a Second Team All-American.
He left after that season for the NBA, where he was the fifth overall pick in the 2004 Draft. His NBA career lasted from 2004-2019. Harris was fortunate enough to be named an NBA All-Star in 2009. Despite his No. 34 not being retired, he is still one of the best point guards in Wisconsin basketball history.
Guard: Johnny Davis
Yet another Mr. Basketball of Wisconsin that decided to take his talents to Madison. Johnny Davis, who came as a package deal with twin brother Jordan, was ready to carry out his outstanding scoring ability in the Big Ten. While he was an off-the-bench player as a freshman in 2020-21, Davis still managed to offer a glimpse at what was to come during his sophomore season. Then again, his freshman season came during a very trying time in college basketball.
Davis was a clear starter by the beginning of the 2021-22 season. Despite the Badgers finishing tied for second in the Big Ten, Davis exploded alongside plenty of other great Big Ten talent. He edged Iowa’s Keegan Murray for Big Ten Player of the Year. The high honors didn’t end there for Davis, as he was also named a consensus First Team All-American. He also won the 2021-22 Jerry West Award as the nation’s top shooting guard. Davis was certainly among the best players in the country that season.
It led to him declaring for the NBA Draft after two seasons. Davis was able to score 830 career points in his two seasons in Madison. The Washington Wizards made Davis their pick with the 10th overall selection in the 2022 Draft. He remains a part of the team but hasn’t quite carried over his collegiate success to the NBA. He’s still young, so perhaps the future will present some good for him.
Forward: Michael Finley
The newest member to have his number retired by Wisconsin, Michael Finley played for the Badgers during a huge era of the Big Ten. The early 1990s saw plenty of talent coming through the Big Ten. While Chris Webber and the Fab Five were tearing it up, or Jim Jackson at Ohio State, Finley was trying to put Wisconsin back on the map. Boy, could Finley light up the scoreboard. The Badgers have had a long history of finding and stealing talent from the state of Illinois, and Finley was no different.
Despite all the attention on those other big-time scorers in the Big Ten receiving the national honors, Finley was busy building a pro future with his effort. Finley ended his four-year Badger career as an 18.7 point-per-game scorer. He was a two-time All-Big Ten performer. He also left Wisconsin as the school’s all-time leading scorer at the time with 2,147 points. His three-point shooting was a huge factor, as he made over 200 career threes in Madison. Despite reaching the NCAA tournament only once, Finley won’t ever be forgotten in Wisconsin basketball history.
He was drafted 21st overall in the 1995 NBA Draft. He turned it into a 15-plus year career, that also saw him named an All-Star twice, and his highlight moment being winning an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007. His No. 24 proudly hangs in the rafters of the Kohl Center.
Forward: Alando Tucker
If you thought Finley was the biggest scorer in Wisconsin history, then you were wrong. Fast forward 11 years, and Alando Tucker graced the red and white of the Badgers. If you were looking for an award, Tucker had it. If you need a basketball, this guy would get it. Like Finley, Tucker came to Madison, from the state of Illinois. During his freshman season in 2002-03, Tucker started 27 of 32 games, and averaged 12 points per game as the team reached the Sweet 16. That early promise went away during his second season, as a foot injury cost him the whole 2003-04 season. He was able to get a medical redshirt and stuck around for three more seasons.
His senior season in 2006-07 was a big one, as he helped lead the Badgers to 30 wins and their first-ever No. 1 ranking in the country. He also became only the second-ever 2,000-point scorer in Wisconsin history. He would also break Finley’s all-time scoring record that season. Despite bowing out in the second round of the tournament that season, Tucker ended an outstanding Badger career with 2,217 points.
Tucker garnered many awards in his final season, including Big Ten Player of the Year, and a Consensus First Team All-American honor. He was a finalist for the Wooden Award. He was the 29th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. His collegiate success never quite carried over to the NBA, as he was out of the league in less than five seasons. He returned to Wisconsin as an interim assistant coach from 2019-2021. Tucker’s No. 42 certainly deserves to be retired at some point given all the accolades he provided to Wisconsin basketball.
Center: Frank Kaminsky
The last spot in the lineup goes to a very special player in Wisconsin basketball history. Bo Ryan struck gold when he found Frank Kaminsky. It was certainly a golden era for the Badgers when the seven-footer stepped foot on campus. When his four-year career was said and done, Kaminsky left Wisconsin as probably the most decorated player in school history. Frank “The Tank” as he quickly became known, played in 35 of 36 games as a freshman. He had to develop his body, and he sure did that during his career.
Kaminsky started to showcase his skills as a junior. He broke out in November that season when he scored 43 points against North Dakota. That paved the way for what was about to happen, as the Badgers made a dazzling run during that 2013-14 season, reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2000. Kaminsky returned for his senior season, with plenty of powerful friends alongside including Sam Dekker. A lot was expected of the Badgers and boy did they live up to the hype. Not only did they win the Big Ten, they played in the National Championship Game.
He was the Big Ten Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, and Consensus First TeamAll-American. Kaminsky also won both the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award. Kaminsky was on top of the college basketball world. It led to him being the ninth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He may have bounced around the league a bit, but he seems to be in a good spot with the Phoenix Suns heading into the 2024-25 season. His No. 44 won’t soon be forgotten at Wisconsin or in Big Ten history.
See Previous All-Time Big Ten Teams Below:
