Wisconsin’s devotion to defense is the big reason it has made a run to a regional semifinal. Another is the development of sophomore point Trevon Hughes, who scored 25 points, handed out three assists and turned the ball over just once in its Saturday victory.
“In the beginning, you look at like the Duke game [in late November], I think even he would admit he struggled in it,” senior teammate Brian Butch said. “Then you just saw the maturity, saw the development. Coach [Bo Ryan] has done a great job of developing Trevon and really making him mature and realize when to make the play, when to pass, when to do those sorts of things. He played a great game today. You can’t say enough about how much the kid has grown up.”
Mystery guest
Through much of his career at Wisconsin, senior forward Greg Stiemsma has been as erratic as a truant teenager. But in the last month he has discovered consistency and, against the Wildcats, he helped shackle Michael Beasley, grabbed seven rebounds and scored a career-high 14 points.
“That’s a guy saying, ‘OK, I can handle it and whatever you give me, coach, I’m going to help,'” Ryan said.
“He has been doing that all year. Some more minutes in some games and other games he’s not out on the floor very much because of the matchups. But he has persevered.”
As for the future
Beasley, the Wildcats’ freshman star, is widely expected to be one-and-done and enter the NBA draft. But he was not ready to talk about his future.
“As of right now, I’m a Kansas State Wildcat,” he said. “I haven’t put any thought into what I’m going to do next year.”
