By Jake McCormick
Faced with low expectations and the lack of a truly dominant player, the University of Wisconsin basketball team needed strong play and leadership from senior guards Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon in order to get the Badgers into the Big Dance. Four months and 21 wins later, Hughes deserves a large part of the credit for the team’s unexpected success, and has undoubtedly increased his chances of playing at the NBA level.
After March Madness gives way to the annual summer marathon of the MLB season, Hughes’ strengths and weaknesses will be under the bigger microscope of the NBA. But what are those, and how will they affect his draft stock?
Posting career highs in points per game (15.5), rebounds per game (4.5), assists per game (2.8), field goal percentage (.417), and three point field goal percentage (.394), Hughes has given his NBA draft stock a boost through hard work, experience, and a few drops of clutch baskets.
“A lot of those players buy into system and learn how to play into system,” Bo Ryan said. “He’s done a great job of that. He’s made a lot of big shots early in the year and seems to be able to play now where he does what he needs to do instead of going out and trying to do too much.”
Behind Hughes’ senior leadership, Wisconsin is positioned to make his final big-game audition in the NCAA tournament a memorable one. Despite most preseason predictions, Bo Ryan’s Badgers have remained an underrated but consistent threat against any powerhouse school, and a large part of that has come from Hughes’ development and dedication.
“He seems more quicker and under control,” Ryan said. “He’s reading screens a little better, looking for his shot.”
At this point, Hughes can expect to hear his name called in the mid to late second round, as quality point guards are always a commodity at the professional level.
Hughes has always been an unselfish player unless the game is on the line, but that is the expectation of a senior point guard leading a defensive offense. He stands at 6’0″ 193 lbs, but Hughes has no trouble aggressively getting to the rim and can play respectable defense, which is really all that can be expected in the NBA.
The biggest thing working against the senior Badger guard is his jump shot, but a 39.4% from beyond the arc will be an enticing plus for any NBA team. His experience in the methodically patient and often boring Wisconsin offense will be a question mark heading into the draft, but Hughes can create his own shot and plays smart basketball.
It would be unreasonable to expect Hughes to contribute or fulfill the expectations of a starting point guard, but he’s proven that he’ll be contributing off an NBA bench somewhere. Hughes has the intangibles to make it in the NBA as a serviceable backup, with his toughness, ability to limit mistakes and make smart decisions, and unselfish attitude.