Varsity is the free Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics, covering Badgers football, basketball, hockey and more each week.
Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/259453
20 // VARSITY February 13, 2014 BY MATT LEPAY // VOICE OF THE BADGERS THE VOICE A nother game, another thriller with Michigan State. Such was the case last Sun- day, when Traevon Jackson stuck a mid-range jumper with 2.1 seconds to play. Jackson's latest of several big shots gave the home team a dramatic 60-58 victory against the short-handed but still extremely- talented Spartans. The man has guts ― or as the great Bill Raftery might say, "On- ions!" I admit to having a soft spot for Trae. Maybe part of it is we both are Ohio natives (even though I moved to Wisconsin before Jackson was born). Perhaps part it comes from watching his dad, Jim, play and then getting to know the elder Jackson at least a little bit through the years from his work with BTN. Jim was one of the best Big Ten players I have ever seen, but he very much wants Traevon to carve his own niche. Mostly, I believe my admiration for the younger Jackson is that he comes across as a polite, genuinely decent person who works like crazy every day to make himself a better player. The junior from Westerville, Ohio, often spends extra time after practice fine-tuning his shot. He is not the only player to do so, but I am not sure anyone outworks him. Now, I will be the first to admit that while I get the chance to know these players ― some better than others ― I am way too old to spend a ton of time with them. That is not my place. Yet Jackson strikes me as someone who gets it. Does he make decisions on the court he wishes he could have back? Of course. Does he hit every big shot? Of course not. Even Mi- chael Jordan missed a few. But there is a fearlessness about Trae Jackson that his teammates seem to love. "I wanted it in (Jackson's) hands," said Josh Gasser after the game. "We have a bunch of guys who want to take it, but I think Trae really, re- ally wants to take it." It is hard not to appreciate some- one who is willing to take ― and make ― the crunch-time shot. Yet, Jackson is often the object of intense scrutiny. Too many turn- overs. Too many low-percentage attempts with the shot clock wind- ing down, etc. Talk shows, message boards and social media platforms give all of us plenty of ways to vent our frustrations and offer free advice. It might be easy to forget that Jackson has been a point guard for a little more than a year and a half. Ever. Not just at Wisconsin, but in his basketball career. Remember, Gasser was in line for the job last season before he suffered a torn ACL in preseason camp. For a relative newbie at the posi- tion, it seems to me that Jackson is progressing pretty well. Especially when you consider the strength of the Big Ten, as well as the non-con- ference schedule he and his team- mates have faced. Jackson's field goal percentage has improved, and his three-point shooting percentage is significantly better so far ― from 29 percent a year ago to nearly 38 percent this season. Jackson would be the first to tell you that he wants to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio. He contin- ues to grow as a player, and some- times there will be painful lessons along the way. Yet Traveon Jackson is develop- ing into a player who, not unlike a cornerback in football, has learned to have a short memory. He tries not to dwell on what just happened, either good or bad. He focuses on what is next. In that respect, Jackson reminds me of past Badgers players such as Freddie Owens and Kam Taylor. They might make a few mistakes during the course of a game, but when it is time to make a play with the game's outcome in the balance, they seem to live for those mo- ments. It probably is easy to write such a column after someone delivers a big shot like Trae Jackson hit on Sunday. But make or miss, I'll take guys like him to play for my team anytime. When it comes to crunch time, I'll take Trae