When teammates were quizzed by we media before the start of the season, John Flowers was the answer to the “Who’s improved most in the offseason?” question. Through this season, those same teammates and his coach, Bob Huggins, have spoken and marveled about how much work Flowers puts into his game — and I have to admit, there are random trips I take through the Coliseum for various purposes and I see Flowers shooting during many of my visits.

Now he’s a able scorer, an accurate 3-point shooter and a reliable free-throw shooter. He’s also understandably and comically confident.

The Mountaineers led by three, 67-64, and one made free throw would make it a two-possession game and put the Boilermakers away.

”I told John to make the first one, miss the second one,” Huggins said. ”He said, ‘you’re going to screw up my free-throw percentage.’ That’s a guy who is a 40-percent career shooter. And I’m gonna screw it up?”