Mike Flowers didn’t even want to look.
With 22.1 seconds left in the Midwest Regional semifinal Friday night, coach Bo Ryan raised the white flag, sending in freshmen Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil and Tim Jarmusz to relieve Flowers and fellow seniors Brian Butch and Greg Stiemsma. As Jarmusz trotted toward Flowers, the Madison native stared off into the distance, took the towel without turning his head and made the long, slow walk to the Badgers’ bench for the last time.
The University of Wisconsin’s season was about to come to a disappointing and surprising end with a 73-56 loss to 10th-seeded Davidson at Ford Field, closing the book on the Badgers’ run from middle-of-the-pack team in the Big Ten at the start of the season to league champion and finally Sweet 16 participant.