UW men's basketball head coach Bo Ryan addressed the media Monday and admitted that his two starting guards slowed down in practice last week before Saturday's loss at Purdue.
With sophomore Trevon Hughes and senior Michael Flowers in the back court, Wisconsin boasts one of the better defenses in the country. In fact, the Badgers rank No. 2 in the country in scoring defense, allowing only 54.9 points per game. Saturday, however, was not one of their better defensive performances, as Purdue torched Wisconsin by shooting 53 percent in a 72-67 win at the Kohl Center.
Both [Flowers] and Trevon handle a lot of screens and get physical when they are guarding or when they are penetrating because they drive into big guys a lot - not just in games but in practices,"" Ryan said.
The head coach added that their recent transportation issues have not helped any bumps and bruises the two might have. Last Tuesday on its way to Iowa, the team van was slowed by a snow storm.
""They actually did the other day in practice look a little slow,"" Ryan added. ""That's the first time I've seen Michael look that way, but he seemed to recover Saturday. He was playing hard. He was moving, he was diving on the floor. He was doing his normal stuff. But even though these guys don't have pads on, if you look at the contact that these guys go through it's a lot more than people realize - especially in our conference.""
The defensive assignments will not be any easier for Flowers this week either as he will once again face the Big Ten's leading scorer Eric Gordon in Indiana Wednesday. In Wisconsin's 62-49 win over the Hoosiers last month, Flowers held Gordon to 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
Gordon's numbers actually did not give an accurate portrayal of Flowers' effort. Of the freshman's points, 10 came in a three-minute stretch where Gordon went on a 10-0 run by himself. The other 37 minutes, the Hoosiers' top scorer looked frustrated by UW's top defender.
""[Flowers] didn't make All-Big Ten defensive team last year by accident. You have to do something,"" Ryan said. ""I'd be surprised if he didn't make it this year, but he has had some really tough assignments to work with his teammates as far as funneling guys and chasing guys, trying to take away their strengths. But he answers the bell and gives the effort. Results vary, but the effort's there.""
Meanwhile, Wisconsin will be trying to find their own offensive answer for Gordon and senior forward D.J. White who scored a game-high 22 points against UW in their last meeting.
""We don't have Eric Gordon and D.J. White but we got some guys that are trying to be like them. To be like Mike,"" Ryan said.
Jumbo Game on Jumbotron
While the team is in Bloomington, Ind., looking to score an upset over the Hoosiers, fans have the opportunity to watch the game free at the Kohl Center.
Ryan was asked Monday where the idea came from.
""We were asked months ago by some fans and some people that said it would be great. The problem is trying to make sure [the Kohl Center] is available on a consistent basis,"" he said.
Wednesday's game is the fourth of a six-game stretch of games on the Big Ten Network, which the majority of fans cannot access. Ryan did not want to get into a discussion about the battle between cable companies and the conference, but he did make the obvious hint that bars and restaurants are not minding the feud.
""There's establishments that have been very happy to have the number of customers that they have had,"" Ryan said. ""It's America. It's capitalism. There are things going on that being an econ major I understand, but I gotta' coach.""
