tOSU vs. Michigan (Unofficial Game Preview)

[vrbryant]

The #17 Ohio State Buckeyes (16-3, 5-3)
vs.
The #22 Michigan Wolverines (16-4, 6-3)
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Thursday, February 9 - 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
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​

MICHIGAN - Official Site of Michigan Athletics - Nobody, including a basketball enthusiast such as myself, would suggest that the hoops version of 'Ohio State versus Michigan' carries more social significance than the one played on the gridiron. Nevertheless, Thursday night's contest (one that I am thrilled to have the privilege of attending) is yet another in a long line of Big Ten matchups that will make significant waves in the conference standings. It may appear to casual observers that Ohio State has had the superior season, but these two teams match up more closely than one might imagine. Ohio State's three losses have come against teams that have, at one time or another, been ranked in the top 25. The same can be said of Michigan's four. Two of OSU's three Ls, and three of UM's four, have come on the road. Michigan is ranked tenth nationally in field goal percentage, Ohio State is sixteenth. Both teams have sixteen victories, and have felled some stout opponents, both teams have one home loss, both teams have four players averaging double figures, and so on, and so forth. The one aberration, interestingly, is Michigan's last game--an good old-fashioned drubbing suffered at the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes. We also left Iowa City with a loss, though while we lost by five, the Wolverines surrended a 28 point deficit. As I was watching the second half of that game at the Fish Market (love that lobster bisque), I couldn't decide whether I thought such a vicious beating would help our cause in Ann Arbor, or rather that it would only motivate Michigan to return home pissed off and hungry for redemption. It was only after I was contentedly stuffed with roasted shrimp, hoisin-slathered salmon and pinot grigio that I came to the realization that it doesn't matter how they 'feel'. The game is ours to win, and it is ours to lose. Tommy Amaker will have them motivated regardless, and it is Matta and Co.'s job to have our guys ready as well. A win sends us into third place, with a chance to take hold of second on Sunday at home against the Illini. It won't be easy, but nothing ever is. Here are this year's Wolverines:

#4 - Daniel Horton​

Senior guard Daniel Horton. Six-foot-three, 205 pounds. The perennial sub-.400 shooter finally found his stroke somehow, and is leading this Michigan team back to prominence. He enters tomorrow's game first on his team in scoring (16.5 ppg), assists (5.7 apg), steals (1.7 spg), and minutes played (33.7 mpg). He's one of the conference's best from the stripe (.918), and has attempted more than four free throws per game so far. In what will probably be Jamar Butler's toughest assignment of the year to date, Horton will be looking to keep up with his conference play scoring average (21 ppg) and torch us from both inside and out. It's going to take a concerted effort to contain the former McDonald's All-American, but doing so would be an enormous step towards victory.

#44 - Courtney Sims​

Another difference between this Michigan team and our own is the presence of a true shot blocker. Junior forward Courtney Sims (6-11, 245) has progressed steadily in his two-plus years of college ball, and is making serious noise in the Big Ten. The Boston native is second in the conference in blocked shots, and leads the pack in field goal percentage at a staggering 61.7%. Unlike many other big men, Sims is quite good at the line (.727) and manages to reach it a fair amount. He's second on the team in rebounding, and will be an interesting match for Terence.

Graham Brown (intentionally not pictured) is the big, meaty, beating heart of this team. The senior forward (6-9, 245) is the consummate junkyard dog--100% hustle, 100% of the time. Consequently, Brown leads the team in rebounding, and contributes consistently in all aspect of the game. His shooting percentage (.657) is actually best on the team, but he doesn't have the requisite attempts to qualify in the conference statistics. Brown is nowhere near as gifted a player as Greg Brunner, the Iowa man-beast that took us to the shed a couple weeks ago. That said, #25 is still bigger, taller, and a hell of a lot uglier than Sylvester, and will be tough for our guys to box out.

#5, junior guard Dion Harris (6-3, 205) is a talented shooter, and should match up well with Kel. He's third on the team at 12.1 ppg, and plays significant minutes--can't afford to let him run wild. The Wolverines' normal wing - Lester Abram - has been hindered by sporadic foot problems, and may not log much floor time. His replacement of late has been #24, sophomore Ron Coleman (6-6, 210), who has yet to impress. #31 Chris Hunter, one of four senior captains, has been admirable off the bench. At 6-foot-11, he's a tough guard, and like always, it will be important to not let their bench options do damage in the game.

With the way Big Ten play has gone, I simply don't take anything for granted anymore. I mean, hell--Illinois lost to Penn State, for crying out loud. Even so, I actually feel less stressed about this game than I have about others this season. I'm not saying we can afford to lose, because what kind of attitude is that? Let's just say that I think we're under considerably less pressure these days compared to a few weeks ago. It also helps that I'll be there, willing them to victory. Now, Amaker has probably slipped his neck off the chopping block with this season's output, and has always been a fine leader. Mr. Matta, though, still has the edge...at least in my book. Iowa shot well over 60% against these guys. We do that, and we come back happy Buckeyes.

Projected starters:

Ohio State

F - Matt Sylvester
C - Terence Dials
G - J.J. Sullinger
G - Je'Kel Foster
G - Jamar Butler

Michigan

F - Graham Brown
C - Courtney Sims
G - Ron Coleman
G - Dion Harris
G - Daniel Horton


My prediction: OSU 79 - UM 73

Up next, Illinois...

 

[Jagdaddy]

Good write-up, but can we make an exception to the practice of putting the other team's logo up when it's a Michigan game? :)

 

[JXC]

I agree. That logo is WAY TO BIG. and it comes up when I go to the home page of BP! We need to make it really tiny, or not there at all!!! IT MAKES ME PUKE!!!