Coming into last season, Badger fans had a pretty good idea of the player that Wisconsin was getting in Michael Flowers: a young, athletic player with a great deal of promise. But after a freshman season, where Flowers saw sparse playing time behind senior guards Sharif Chambliss, Clayton Hanson, and then sophomore guard Kammron Taylor, Flowers was considered a question mark in the eyes of many.
That question has been quickly erased this year, with Flowers playing a pivotal role for the Big Ten Conference leading Badgers. The Badgers (14-4, 4-1 Big Ten) would not be where they are today without Flowers' defense and effort. After a freshman year in which he posted only nine minutes per game along with 1.2 points per game, Flowers has shown vast improvement early in his second season by averaging 25 minutes per game and 5.7 points per game. But what Flowers has become most known for is his defensive play.
'I have to go out there and I can't let the team down.' Flowers said. 'I don't want to be the guy in the locker that lets the team down and loses it because I know how hard everybody else has worked on the team and I don't want to be that down guy.'
It can be seen during every game that Flowers does not want to be the one to let his team down. He played a career-high 36 minutes against Eastern Kentucky, then later had a season-high 12 points against UW-Green Bay. Flowers soon after posted a game-high eight rebounds versus Iowa, a mark that is impressive for any guard, especially one that comes off the bench.
But what is most impressive about Flowers play so far this season is his ability to shut down the opposing team's top offensive players, and this is no small task. He has had to defend the likes of Wake Forest's Justin Gray, Shannon Brown and Maurice Ager of Michigan State, and Pittsburgh's swingman Carl Krauser. Flowers credited his work ethic and experience for allowing him to clamp down on defenders this season.
'I'd have to say that I can see the court more, and I can anticipate where and what my player is going to do on the court,' Flowers said. 'So I think that that chemistry has really helped me and my game so far this year.'
The Badgers, like Flowers, also seem to have their team chemistry working again this year. Wisconsin is thriving and is again ranked nationally, currently No. 21. While most critics are surprised at the upstart Badgers, Flowers and his teammates aren't startled at all.
'Most people didn't have us at this spot in the Big Ten right now.' Flowers said. 'It's no surprise to us, we know what we are capable of it's just that every game we go out and we focus on our next game and play Wisconsin ball.'
Flowers also noted the team is focused on each game, not what critics think of them.
'We can't worry about what other people say and what they say about us. As long as we go out there and play Wisconsin ball, we let our play speak for itself,' Flowers said.
Wisconsin is starting to head down the home stretch of its season as it only has five home games left. Those home games include Illinois and Indiana, two teams that have fought through obstacles to put themselves right in the middle of the Big Ten race.
UW will also have to fight through three tough road tests, including at Michigan this Saturday and then finishing its Big Ten run in late February with back-to-back contests at Michigan State and Iowa.
Despite the schedule, with Flowers and the rest of the Badgers playing 'Wisconsin ball,' they should have no trouble heading into the Big Ten Tournament with high expectations. His team nickname is 'Tulip', and it can be seen easily that this Flower and the rest of the Badgers are ready to fully blossom.
