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Hughes battles with bout of cough-ups

MADISON — Maybe Trevon Hughes is just too good for his own good sometimes.

Earlier this month when Michigan was trying to dig its way out of an 11-point halftime deficit, the University of Wisconsin’s junior point guard took over with seeming ease, scoring 10 straight points to help the Badgers regain their cushion and then some. Afterward coach Bo Ryan said Hughes managed those possessions about as well as anyone he had coached.

In December, he scored only nine points against UW-Green Bay but was so effective at getting into the paint and creating havoc—he had seven points and two assists during a key 7-minute stretch at the end of the first half—that Phoenix coach Tod Kowalczyk called him the player of the game.

In his finest moment of the season, Hughes knifed his way the length of the floor at Virginia Tech before pulling up near the free throw line and draining a last-second jumper to give the Badgers a two-point victory.

“He beat three guys to win the game,” coach Bo Ryan said.

It all makes it hard to figure the recent funk for the Delafield St. John’s graduate.

He had five turnovers in a 13-point loss at Purdue then turned it over six times against Minnesota last week when he looked lost at times against the Gophers’ full-court pressure.

He was called for a 10-second violation in that game, was beaten by Al Nolen one-on-one and twice was trapped in the backcourt against the press and turned the ball over.

Purdue put a lot of pressure on the ball, too, but only two of his turnovers were the result of that. The other times he dribbled the ball off his foot, inexplicably lost it on a drive or traveled.

The 11 turnovers were more than Hughes had in the previous 10 games combined.

“I got caught sleeping sometimes,” he admitted. “But I’ve got to make better decisions. I’ve had two games in a row that I’ve played bad and I know I can do better.”

Hughes and the Badgers (12-5, 3-2) get another chance at 7:30 tonight when they play Iowa (11-7, 1-4) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

For a player in a rut like Hughes, the Hawkeyes are an ideal opponent. Though they play tough defense, they don’t pressure the ball as Purdue can and don’t press as Minnesota does.

But the Badgers play Saturday at Illinois, which entered the week ranked fourth in league play in turnovers forced (13.6), and have a rematch with Purdue on Tuesday.

“I’m pretty set. My confidence isn’t going to waver,” he said. “I know I had two bad games. I’ve got a whole season ahead of me.”

Given Hughes’ track record, it is safe to assume he’ll return to form, but his struggles illustrate how vital he is to the team’s success.

Jason Bohannon is solid with the ball but has been susceptible to mistakes against teams that pressure the ball. Joe Krabbenhoft is also good with the ball, especially considering he stands 6 feet 7 inches. It appears, though, that the Badgers sometimes miss a third guard who could either spell Bohannon or Hughes or play with them.

UW used Bohannon, Hughes and Michael Flowers together on the floor effectively last season. This year the coaching staff has been pleased with the development of freshmen Jordan Taylor and Rob Wilson, though neither has had significant playing time in Big Ten games.

With Minnesota throwing all-out pressure on the Badgers in the final 4 minutes, Ryan still felt it best to keep Hughes and Bohannon on the floor even though both were struggling.

“Jordan and Rob are learning from those guys because they’re watching. . . . But still it’s a different level and when that pressure came, who would you rather have out on the floor?” Ryan asked.

Until they’re ready, the Badgers will continue working with Hughes, who averages 12.2 points and 2.9 assists per game, and when he hits a rough spot hope the defense, scoring and overall competiveness he brings to the floor will outweigh the mistakes.

That was almost the case against Minnesota when, after committing three turnovers in the first 4 minutes, Hughes went on to dish out five assists. He also scored 14 points in the second half and in overtime.

“Decision and consistency are a big thing, but we’ve also got to give him some help,” associate head coach Greg Gard said. “We have to be able to shoulder some of that load sometimes if teams are going to come after him and get some help from some other areas, whether it’s players in the backcourt, some help off the bench, do a better job of setting some screens up the floor.

”But that’s one way to try to attack any team, come after the head of the team.“