By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Rod Flowers is aware of the opportunity before him. For the first time in his University of Cincinnati basketball career, the 6-foot-8 junior has a legitimate chance to play quality minutes.

If the season began today, Flowers might be starting. If not, he'd probably be the first frontline player off the bench.

"When we open up against Tennessee Tech (Nov.23), we're going to play eight or nine guys, and he's certainly one of those," Bearcats assistant coach Andy Kennedy said. "He's definitely in the mix.... But it's still early."

This has to be considered one of the pleasant surprises of the preseason for UC coaches.

Flowers is the only Bearcats center or power forward with two full seasons under his belt. However, he has played fewer minutes (169 total) than sophomore Jason Maxiell (732) and senior Eugene Land (237) did in one season.

As a freshman, Flowers averaged 4.6 minutes in 19 games and totaled 22 points and 21 rebounds. Last season, he averaged just 3.9 minutes in 21 games, totaling 29 points and 32 rebounds.

Part of the problem has been timing. Flowers was stuck behind Donald Little, B.J. Grove and Jamaal Davis in his first season. Last year, it was Little, Davis and Maxiell.

"It's been hard, but I've been patient," Flowers said. "I knew God didn't put me in this situation to sit on the bench for four years."

Flowers hasn't always helped himself. He came in highly touted as Alabama's Class 6A Player of the Year and a top-100 prospect. But 6-5 walk-on Rodney Crawford, for example, played more than Flowers because he was tough, played hard every day and was tenacious in going after rebounds.

UC senior Leonard Stokes said Flowers played well during the summer before his freshman year, but once preseason practices started, he digressed.

"He was good," Stokes said. "He was just immature. Coach would yell at him and he'd pout. Now when people talk to him, he gets the information. He listens instead of taking it as an insult."

Flowers is aware of what's been happening with the Bearcats since the end of last season.

Davis and Crawford finished their careers. Little was dismissed from the team. Grove is overweight and unlikely to return.

The road was paved. All Flowers had to do was follow the path.

Kennedy said that from the first practice Flowers did just that, showing that he knew plays, drills, what was expected by UC coach Bob Huggins. He was more aggressive.

"He is a perfect example of (this): If you come to this program and you buy in and do what you're supposed to do and stay in the weight room and you learn, then eventually you'll get your opportunity," Kennedy said. "Well, his opportunity is now and it's very important that he takes advantage of it.

"People think coaches determine minutes. Coaches don't determine minutes; players determine minutes. Right now, Rod, through his performance to this point, is demanding some minutes."

Flowers was impressive during an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, scoring a game-high 26 points on 12-of-13 shooting, to go with four rebounds.

He and first-year junior Kareem Johnson seem to have established themselves as being ahead of the pack in the race for the starting frontline spot next to Maxiell.

Johnson might get the nod if UC needs defense and a bigger post presence (he's about 15 pounds heavier). Flowers certainly is more offense-oriented.

"Whatever it takes to help my team win, I'm up for the challenge," Flowers said. "Coach needs me this year. I don't want him to be stressed out. I don't want him to have to fuss at me like he's been doing (in past years)."