SPORTS
Flowers, bench provide lift
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Also by Mike Ackerstein:
- Wisconsin hits road for Milwaukee (December 12, 2007)
- Heisman pressures could tackle Tebow (December 10, 2007)
- Wisconsin's home streak dead at 28 (December 10, 2007)
- Poor ball control haunts Badgers (December 10, 2007)
- Badgers put on show against Terriers (December 4, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Hoops' starting 5 remain unknown (November 6, 2007)
- Flowers 'blossoming' in second year as key reserve (January 31, 2006)
- Guard Flowers' leave over (November 1, 2007)
- Stiemsma off to big start for UW (November 20, 2007)
- Hughes sparks comeback victory (November 12, 2007)
by Mike Ackerstein
Monday, November 19, 2007
Playing three games in as many days, the University of
Wisconsin men's basketball team was able to count on its bench to provide
valuable support and minutes over the course of the America's Youth Classic
tournament.
In the tournament's final game Saturday, it was Michael
Flowers providing the initial spark off the bench. Ryan's decision to have
Flowers on the bench to start games this season after Flowers started every
game last year may have come as a surprise to some, but Saturday proved how
effective the guard can be coming in a few minutes after tip-off.
After coming into the game several minutes into the first
half, Flowers was able to hit a three-pointer, break away on a steal for a lay-up,
assist Trevon Hughes on a three-pointer and then assist Jason Bohannon for
another three over his first five possessions for the game that helped the
Badgers establish an early 13-point lead.
"That energy, it's exciting to see that kind of passion,"
Ryan said of Flowers. "It definitely inspires his teammates.
"He's an igniter."
Flowers finished the game with 12 points, four rebounds,
four assists, four steals and a dramatic breakaway steal capped off by his
first dunk on three attempts this season.
Freshmen Jon Leuer also provided some help off the bench
Saturday against Colorado. The forward logged 17 minutes, scoring eight points
and grabbing a pair of rebounds.
"He just plays," Ryan said of Leuer. "I like him a lot."
In addition to Flowers and Leuer, the bench proved valuable
when junior Joe Krabbenhoft went down with an injury early in the first half.
Ryan was able to turn to forward Kevin Gullikson to jump into the mix, and the
junior responded with a quick basket and solid play before Krabbenhoft was able
to return to the game.
Blowouts on Thursday and Friday allowed Ryan to rest key
players and helped the team stay prepared for the finale Saturday.
"You want your guys to play because you have to stay game
ready," Ryan said after Friday's game. "But we weren't going to play guys in
the second half as much.
"We were the beneficiaries of getting some guys off the
floor and getting them ready for the third game."
Friday against Florida A&M, Bohannon found a rhythm
coming off the bench — the sophomore guard hit four 3-pointers while scoring a
game-high 17 points.
"A lot of it's just getting a feel for the game," Bohannon
said. "It's difficult to just come off the bench and start shooting right away.
I didn't feel like the shots were there at the beginning. As we worked the ball
around a little more, the shot was there and I felt comfortable.
"It always helps a lot to have that three-ball going down.
It makes things a lot easier."
The play of Bohannon was a critical part of Wisconsin's
establishment of a 40-point lead for most of the second half against Florida
A&M, and Ryan was able to look deep down the bench for playing time late in
the game.
Friday's game saw the entrance, and quick scoring, of senior
fan-favorite Tanner Bronson. The guard connected on a pair of three-pointers,
the first of which a long bank shot, as he scored a career-high six points.
"We all know he's capable of going out there and running
this team as a point guard," Krabbenhoft said. "When he gets out there he loves
to show the fans what he can do."
Newly added walk-on Wquinton Smith made his debut as well
late in Friday's game. The freshman earned his roster spot via an open-tryout
earlier in the season and received a large ovation from the crowd upon checking
in.
"First time I ever got a hug for putting a guy into a game,"
Ryan said of Smith. The walk-on finished with no points and one turnover.
"I said, 'Just don't turn the ball over next time,'" Ryan joked. "So much for the hug."
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