Flowers Blooms

As Bo Ryan and most knowledgeable college basketball fans knew, "mid-major" program Winthrop would present a challenge to the Badgers on Monday night. Dubbed by some as the "Gonzaga of the South," Winthrop came in with a team that got nearly 40% of its points from behind the three-point line. This is also a program that has played competitively against teams like Tennessee, Marquette, North Carolina and Maryland over the last 10 months. Winthrop was due for an upset, but the Badgers weren't about to let it happen.

Winthrop didn't disappoint on Monday pushing the Badgers to overtime before losing 82-79. Winthrop made an incredible 15 of 25 three point shots it made. In contrast, Wisconsin made only 6 of 25 three point shots. However, Wisconsin got Alando Tucker's typical superman effort and it also got a contribution from an unlikely hero, Michael Flowers. Flowers scored 21 points and added five assists, four rebounds and two steals in 42 minutes.

After Winthrop hit a three to go up 65-63, Tucker missed a bank shot from just right of the lane - but it was corralled by Flowers in the midst of several bodies under the basket, and Flowers was able to go up and score to tie the game at 65 with 10.6 seconds left.

Winthrop's Torrell Martin, who tied a Kohl Center record with seven 3-pointers, got an open look from the top of the circle as the clock was winding down, but his 3-pointer drew the front of the rim just before the buzzer sounded.

The Badgers scored points on their first eight possessions of overtime, the biggest coming when Tucker buried a 3-pointer from the left wing as the shot clock was winding down to give UW a 73-67 edge. From there the Badgers made their free throws and held off the Eagles to get the win.