Bo Ryan has long preached the importance of adding value to the team when a player earns minutes on the court. For a reserve whose time is limited, the level of value may differ from that of a starter. But in some ways, that means his performance is magnified.
Snag a rebound. Tip a ball. Hound an opposing player into forcing a bad shot. Shot fake and make the next pass to help a teammate score. These mundane tasks can go a long way toward determining a team's postseason fate, when every possession seems to mean so much more.
Wisconsin sophomore guard Zak Showalter has come to understand and accept his responsibility in fulfilling such a role. And though his stat line from No. 1 seed Wisconsin's 72-65 victory against No. 8 seed Oregon in the Round of 32 on Sunday night might not wow the masses, it did not go unnoticed by teammates and coaches, who recognize Showalter represents yet another vital component to a team vying to win a national championship.
"He was great just for what he needed to do," Badgers assistant coach Greg Gard said after Sunday's game. "That's exactly what we need him to give us, those energy plays."
Showalter finished with five points and five rebounds in 15 minutes, and his defense on Oregon guard Joseph Young while Badgers guards Josh Gasser and Bronson Koenig sat was critical. He entered the game with 14:12 left in the first half and immediately made his presence felt by snagging a defensive rebound on an Elgin Cook missed jumper. Two possessions later, he tallied another defensive rebound and then an assist on a Frank Kaminsky layup.
The five boards marked a career high and required only 5 minutes, 56 seconds of game time in the first half to achieve. His 15 minutes signified the most time he had played since a Feb. 7 game against Northwestern -- a span of 13 games.
"Showy is just a warrior," Badgers forward Sam Dekker said. "He battles, doesn't care if he scores, doesn't care how many fouls he picks up. He knows he has to come in and play good defense, get deflections and scrap, but him being my roommate, I see how much he gets to the gym and shoots, goes and works on his offensive game."
Showalter said he tried to stay ready for his opportunity, as he has all season. And he found motivation in trying to prove Wisconsin's bench -- which has faltered at times -- could help the Badgers maintain and extend a lead.
"I know some things have been said about our bench through the year," Showalter said. "We want to prove ourselves and be ready. . . .
"I knew going into this game Josh and (Bronson) might get into some foul trouble because Joseph Young is that good of a player. So I was prepared. And it felt good to get in the first half, get more comfortable, and then by the second half, I was ready."
Showalter averages only 2.1 points per game this season, but that didn't stop him from having the confidence to take -- and make -- two shots that helped raise Wisconsin's lead against Oregon from 40-37 to 45-37. First, he ball faked to the corner to move the defense and buried an open 3 on the right wing with 11:33 remaining in the second half. It was only his second made 3-pointer all season -- first since Jan. 20 against Iowa -- and the fourth 3 of his career. He entered the game having made just 1 of 13 long-range attempts on the year.
On the next possession, Showalter swooped in for a reverse layup after driving the right baseline.
"He made two huge shots that were able to kind of lift us," Gasser said. "We didn't shoot the ball all that well. So when you have a guy off the bench that can come in and give that spark, give that kind of push, it fires us up and it helps us obviously."
Added Showalter: "That's what any kid dreams about, knocking down a big shot in the NCAA tournament. So to be able to do that was awesome."
Showalter figures to earn more meaningful opportunities to contribute when Wisconsin plays fourth-seeded North Carolina at 6:47 p.m. CT Thursday in the Sweet 16 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. And given the way he performed against Oregon, he'll be prepared for whatever minutes he earns.
"That's what we expect from our guys," Badgers forward Nigel Hayes said. "As a team we always give our bench guys confidence that when they come in, they can make things happen. And they're not just there just to spell someone, but they're actually there to give us a boost or create something positive for the team. Showy was able to come in, he did a great job to the best of his ability guarding Young, who was a great player in his own right. And he was able to contribute offensively."
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