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Lucas: Point guards in focus for Badgers, Wildcats

Mike Lucas  —  3/28/2008 6:04 am

DETROIT — The local focus has run the gamut from an embattled mayor's text messaging scandal, to Ford Co. selling Land Rover, to Chris Webber's retirement plans, to Jon Kitna's search for happiness in a new offensive system with the Lions, to Dontrelle Willis' inflated spring ERA with the Tigers, to Darren McCarty's healthy return with the Red Wings.

That the Michigan State Spartans are not here also has come into focus for thousands of Sparty fans who have been unable to unload tickets for the NCAA's Midwest Regional at Ford Field. That, too, will have a focal point: a key matchup between the University of Wisconsin's defensive stopper, Michael Flowers, and Davidson College's explosive scorer, Stephen Curry, who bears a striking resemblance to a young Devin Harris (athletically) and a young Reggie Miller (physically). But another matchup may have more of a bearing on the outcome.

Trevon Hughes vs. Jason Richards.

The point guards.

"He has the ball in his hands the most," Curry said, making a logical argument for Richards making things go for the Wildcats. "He's very good at getting us into our spots and not starting the play before we're ready. He also does a great job of finding people when they're open. In the college game, you're only open for a split second. He delivers the ball well in the scoring pocket. He gets you ready to shoot the ball. Even when things are going wrong, he's our leader on the floor and can keep us in games with penetration and making plays himself. That's a great weapon to have — a scoring point guard who can lead and distribute the ball the way he does."

Richards, the catalyst, has collected an astounding 271 assists while breaking down defenses and setting up Curry for open looks. He has also provided timely scoring (12.9 points) and momentum-changing plays (47 steals). Not bad for someone who slipped under the radar as a prep. Richards, a senior from Barrington, Ill., was not recruited by any Big Ten programs. And he credited Davidson coach Bob McKillop with giving him the necessary freedom to develop and control tempo.

"Coach calls me the quarterback on the team and he has tremendous confidence in me," Richards said. "My role is to kind of get the guys in their spots, set guys up, run the offense. Mostly it's to get the ball to Steph (who has taken 260 more shots than anyone else). I also try to be a vocal guy on the court, calm guys down, be a team leader."

When asked about his UW counterpart, Hughes, the diplomatic Richards had nothing but flattering things to say, comparing Hughes to Gonzaga's Jeremy Pargo. In their first-round matchup, Richards had 15 points, nine assists, three turnovers and two steals. Pargo had 18 points, six assists, six turnovers and three steals.

Richards made it clear that he expects the point guard play to be a major factor tonight. Others share that perspective, namely Hughes' teammates. "He's a big key for this team just running the floor and being a good floor general out there and doing what coach (Bo Ryan) asks," UW guard Jason Bohannon said. "Whether he scores or not doesn't really matter. It's more about how he runs the team and controls the offense." Added center Greg Stiemsma, "When you're the guy leading the ball up the floor all the time, you've got a lot of control over the game. If he can hit some shots, if he can distribute and take care of the ball, that makes us so much better. Just the confidence he plays with and that swagger rubs off. When he's confident, we're confident. And when he plays well, we seem to click."

Hughes, to his credit, doesn't shy away from the responsibilities inherent to his position, especially in setting the example. "That's what I have to do and that's basically a point guard's job, to control the tempo of the game," Hughes said. "I think I'm over the early anxiety of the tournament. I have to play my game, not do too much, keep my poise and not get outside of my zone. The point guard has always been the quarterback on the floor. That's how it has always been. That will never change."

Growing up in New York (Queens), Hughes admitted, "I was basically a distributor and defensive-minded. My offensive game has come around. I definitely have some New York in my game, too. It's just the way I carry myself and I play. I hold myself to a high level."

Bohannon has noticed. "You do sometimes see a little of that flair," he said. "Once in a while he'll make the tremendous play and you don't see that often in the Midwest. But he has a great sense for the floor game."

Interjected Stiemsma, "He definitely has a little bit of that New York swagger. Sometimes good or bad. One thing we forget sometimes is that he's only a sophomore and a first-year starter. This is his first year in a starting role and being a team leader on the team."

Leading by example is the operative phrase, according to Ryan. "You've got to stop Richards first," he insisted. "He's the guy that transports the ball and gets them into what they do. Their initial look is getting a big to seal your big inside one of the lane lines and getting him to the rim (slip screen). So it starts with getting him (the big) and then it works from there with Richards."

Hughes vs. Richards.

That's where it may start and end for one of these teams tonight.

Hughes understands his burden, "I have to play well," he said, knowing the season is dependent on it.

Mike Lucas  —  3/28/2008 6:04 am