UW men's basketball: Landry named Most Valuable Player of Big Ten tourney
INDIANAPOLIS -- Unselfishness has been such a key for the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team this season that individual awards have rarely taken center stage.
That was the case again after the Badgers defeated Illinois 61-48 Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse to win the Big Ten Conference tournament title. Junior forward Marcus Landry was named the tournament Most Valuable Player while senior guard Michael Flowers was named to the all-tournament team.
"It was a surprise to me. I didn't think I was going to get it, anyway," said Landry, who averaged 12 points and 7.3 rebounds during the tournament. "I was just going out there playing basketball. Every time I went out there I really focused on doing what it took for us to win the game more than anything."
Landry and Flowers had the two best highlights of the tournament. Both were defensive plays, which was fitting considering that the Badgers' defense was a key to winning the title.
Landry leaped to block an intended dunk by Illinois' Brian Randle, who got the ball and raced to the rim after a Landry turnover Sunday. Flowers' steal of a pass intended for Drew Neitzel and subsequent layup turned out to be the difference during the Badgers' 65-63 semifinal win over Michigan State on Saturday.
"It's just about playing really hard and sticking to some of the things that we have in front of us," said Landry. "You just get good plays and you make up for your mistakes."
Landry's solid performances of late have been noticed by everybody.
"I don't think he's improved. He's always had it," said sophomore guard Trevon Hughes. "He's just more hungry now. He sees things. He wants the same thing everybody else wants in this locker room. That's rings, that's trophies, that's championships."
Also named to the all-tournament team were Illinois' Demetri McCamey and Shaun Pruitt and Michigan State's Neitzel.
On guard: After making just 8-of-26 3-pointers during their first two tournament games, the Badgers got a chance to improve on those numbers against the Illini, who concentrated on shutting down Wisconsin's interior game. They ended up making 9-of-18 3-pointers as Flowers had three and Landry and Brian Butch each had two.
"We knew they were going to come out and double the post, and the post players did a great job of kicking it out and trying to hit a guy in scoring position," said Flowers, who was referring to Landry's four assists. "We were lucky enough the ball was going in this time."
Flowers called the Badgers' performance in Indianapolis "a confidence booster and a reality check."
"I think we're in a zone right now. We're flowing as a team as a whole," he said. "We scored a lot of inside points and free throws against Michigan State and today we shot well from the perimeter. This is a great group of guys who are focused and on the same page."
