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One year ago, Trevon Hughes was a relative unknown.

A self-described "role-player" at the time, yet to see major
action in a high-profile game, Hughes was called off the bench to guard
Marquette’s highly-touted, lightning quick point guard Dominic James in a
frenzied atmosphere at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.

The freshman responded aptly, nabbing three steals, scoring
two points and doling out two assists in 18 minutes of action hounding James.
The 6-foot guard also pulled down five rebounds, the third most on the team
that game.

James, on the other hand, managed to score 19 points, but
shot only 37 percent from the field and made just two of seven 3-point
attempts.

"I was able to play good defense," Hughes said. "I was a
role player at the time. … I was just trying to help my team out, try to
contribute."

What a difference a year makes.

On Saturday, when Wisconsin welcomes No. 11 Marquette to the
Kohl Center at 5 p.m., Hughes will likely draw James as his defensive
assignment again, this time as the Badgers’ starting point guard and leading
scorer.

Hughes welcomes the assignment and relishes the opportunity.

"That’s my chance to see where I’m at and my chance to get
better at the same time," Hughes said. "They’ve got three tremendous guards."

Aside from James, the guard trio Hughes speaks of includes
Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews Jr. All three are juniors, and all three bring
something different to the table.

McNeal is having the best season of the bunch for the Golden
Eagles, averaging 16 points, five rebounds and 3.5 assists per game through six
contests.

James pitches up just under 15 points per game and hands out
3.2 assists per game.

Matthews, a Madison native, is having a comparatively quiet
season, scoring nine points per game.

"The game isn’t going to change," assistant coach Greg Gard
said. "We see a lot of good players and those are three really good players,
but they’re not the only guys they have. They have other guys that are really contributing
and doing a nice job for them."

As much as Wisconsin’s depth has been praised, Marquette may
be even deeper. The Golden Eagles have five players who average between nine
and 16 points per game and eight that average at least 15 minutes per contest.

That group includes guard David Cubillan, a perimeter
shooting threat who averages nearly 23 minutes per game off the bench for Tom
Crean’s club and scores 10 points per contest.

The player that catches Gard’s eye the most, however, is
sophomore forward Lazar Hayward.

"From my observation on film and seeing their games, I think
he’s their most improved player," Gard said. "I’ve been very impressed with him
and he’s developed his game. … He’s much more confident, more aggressive and
doing a lot of positive things."

Averaging nearly 13 points and six rebounds a game, the
6-foot-6-inch Hayward anchors an undersized front line for Marquette. The
Golden Eagles rotation includes just four players Hayward’s height or taller,
and one of whom — 6-foot-9-inch Dan Fitzgerald — is more of a perimeter player
than a banger in the post.

For Wisconsin, which starts four players 6-foot-7-inches or
taller, holding a significant size advantage over opponents has turned into
something of a different game, same story situation.

"It’s not an advantage unless you do something about it,"
forward Brian Butch said. "If you watch a lot of basketball, there are plenty
of times where you have a mismatch in the post and the ball’s thrown away because
you’re trying to take advantage of that mismatch.

"You really need to play sound and do what you normally do
to be successful."

Wisconsin also enters the game looking to avenge the
lopsided loss it suffered in its last game against a nationally ranked opponent
— a 82-58 defeat at the hands of then-No. 7 Duke.

"We need to redeem ourselves for our last ESPN (televised)
game," Hughes said.

Streaks

A couple streaks will be on the line for Wisconsin when the
Badgers and Golden Eagles tip off.

Wisconsin has won 28 consecutive games at the Kohl Center
dating back to a 2006 loss to North Dakota State.

Against Marquette, Wisconsin has won the last three games
and seven of the last nine.