The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team won 38 consecutive games at the Kohl Center, the nation’s longest home win streak. While the streak began with a team led by Kirk Penney and moved into the Devin Harris era, only one player saw action in all 38 games. That distinction belongs to a soft-spoken farm boy from Blue Mound, Wis., named Mike Wilkinson.
Wilkinson has never been the main attraction, but he’s always been there. And the Badgers would not be where they are without him.
For three years, Wilkinson stood in the shadows. He went to work every day, got the job done and went home. At first, no one seemed to notice. But after a while, his numbers were simply too good to hide.
Of course, that didn’t stop Wilkinson from trying. The unassuming forward somehow managed to fly under the radar while leading the Badgers in rebounding three years in a row. This season, he is on pace to become the only player in school history to accomplish the feat in four consecutive seasons. Without ever standing out, Wilkinson has become just the second player in school history to compile more than 1,250 points and 700 rebounds.
The workmanlike forward has been the heart and soul of the UW frontcourt, but never its mouthpiece. Even on the court, Wilkinson’s achievements have always seemed somewhat muted. No one can put up 15 points and eight rebounds as quietly as the UW forward.
His play has been so methodical it seems to blend into the background. He scores when he’s supposed to score and he does it exactly the way it was drawn up. Every move is so precise and predictable that it doesn’t seem to register until you look down at the score sheet and notice the number 18 listed next to Wilkinson’s name.
For three years, Wilkinson was simply there. A constant contributor, but never the headliner. Things are different now. He has been too good for too long. People are starting to take notice.
“He’s always been a complementary player — defender first, an opportunistic scorer,” associate head coach Rob Jeter said. “This year, people labeled him as a go-to guy.”
With the recognition came new expectations. Suddenly, it was no longer acceptable for Wilkinson to quietly contribute. He was supposed to be a go-to guy.
“People have such high expectations, when he wasn’t doing it earlier they wondered why,” Jeter said. “But you have to understand Mike. He’s just a worker. He’s going to continue to work and good things happen. He’s proof of that.”
Perhaps unaware that he was suddenly supposed to be a primetime player, Wilkinson went about his business as usual through the non-conference schedule. Occasionally he put up big numbers, but for the most part he seemed content to work in the background while high-flying forward Alando Tucker grabbed the headlines with a 27-point explosion against Maryland and three straight 21-point performances against UNC-Greensboro, Western Carolina and Alabama.
But once the Big Ten schedule began, Wisconsin basketball became the Mike Wilkinson show. Through Wisconsin’s first five conference games, the Badgers’ new go-to guy averaged 18.0 points and 9.8 rebounds. The unassuming contributor has become a basketball giant. And a gentler giant there never was.
Talking to the quiet big man from a small Wisconsin farm town, one could not possibly imagine he’s the same guy who has dominated the lane against the Big Ten’s elite post players. With all-Big Ten talent and the voice of a freshman just hoping to make the squad, Wilkinson has quietly become one of the most consistent performers in school history.
While barely audible in the post-game press conference, Wilkinson has been hard to miss on the stat sheet. And for the first time, the master of the nearly invisible double-double is starting to take center stage.
He simply can’t be considered a role player anymore. Role players don’t average 18 and 10 in conference play. Role players don’t put the team on their back when the squad’s leading scorer goes 0-for-9 on the road. Role players don’t enter their senior year on the verge of becoming the school’s all-time leader in offensive rebounds. And no, role players don’t rank among the all-time top 10 in blocks, steals and rebounds either.
It was foolish to think this would be Tucker’s team. Wilkinson took a backseat to Kirk and Devin, but Alando will have to share the spotlight.
Of course, Wilkinson will step into that spotlight grudgingly. While his game reaches new heights, so does his modesty. As if incapable of admitting to his own value, Wilkinson will put up 20 points, pull down 10 boards and comment only on the two free throws he missed.
After dropping 28 points and 15 rebounds on Michigan in what Wolverine head coach Tommy Amaker described as a “flawless” performance, Wilkinson sounded like he was the one who shot 0-for-9 from the field.
“I missed a couple open shots, I missed two free throws, there were some defensive things,” Wilkinson said after the game. “You go back and learn from those and try to be better the next game.”
Try to be better the next game? You scored 28 points! You had 15 rebounds! You missed a grand total of two shots all night! How much better can you get?
But that’s just the way Wilkinson is. You won’t hear him talk about how consistently he knocked down his short hook in the lane. You won’t hear him discuss how he systematically dissected the opponent’s interior defense with a bevy of post moves. You won’t even catch him referencing the fact that he had more blocks than turnovers on the night.
All you’ll hear from Wilkinson is how good the entry passes were and how much he needs to work on his mid-range jumper and defensive footwork. And maybe, if he really lights it up (you know, like 28 and 15) he just might let an “I felt really good out there” slip.
