Michigan at Ohio State...1/29...Thoughts...

• holdingout

  Michigan is a good team, but I see a double digit win here by the Buckeyes.
• centralbucksfan

  Should be a good game, for a while. Really like what I am seeing out of OSU right now. More defensively than anything. They had alittle hickup couple weeks ago(when most fans were in a panic). But they have seemed to straighten things out IMO. Buford has played a couple of very solid games as well.
  UM hasn't been good on the road. OSU has been just about unbeatable at home this year, drilling almost everyone. I suspect UM may hang around for a while. But I expect a 10-15pt victory.
  Craft will D up Burke and Smith Jr will make things tough for Hardaway.
• FatHobbit

  

  We will know a lot more about Michigan after this game. It's a big test for them, but I expect OSU to get the W.
• vball10set

  I think Thomas is the X-factor in this game, both offensively and defensively. I hope he gets matched up with Novak, because I think his long reach will give him problems, and if Deshon's hitting his shots, Novak doesn't stand a chance.
  
  OSU 78
  tsun 66
• sleeper

  

  Ohio State by 30.
• wildcats20

  

  What's a didget?
• FatHobbit

  

  wildcats20;1067749 wrote:What's a didget?

  
• stlouiedipalma

  Michigan will learn the lesson given to Indiana, that a major-league can of whupp-a** awaits them at Value City Arena. Buckeyes in a rout on Sunday. Illinois will get their helping next month. Woe to those who win narrowly at home with career performances, because the Bucks love payback.
• vball10set

  FatHobbit;1067752 wrote:

  lol--reps
• se-alum

  

  Bucks by right around 20.
• Heretic

  

  I'll say Ohio State by 17, since it's at home.
• Mulva

  

  I don't anticipate a blowout in this one. I'll say OSU by 12, but UM will hang for awhile.
• Tiger2003

  

  I hope I'm wrong but I believe this game will be close. Ohio St needs to go to Sully early and often.
• Midstate01

  

  Osu 77-72
• SportsAndLady

  

  Ohio State will win.
  
  **waits til after the game to quote this and brag about my awesome prediction**
  
  **/cbf'd**
• vball10set

  http://www.elevenwarriors.com/node
  

  Based on what you've seen, for one season only, would you take Burke or Craft to run your offense and why?
  That’s a tough question. They are very different styles of point guards and seem to be better fits for their respective teams.
  When you look at Michigan’s roster, it needs a shot taker or a high usage player that can create his own shot and create for others. Darius Morris took 25% of Michigan’s shots while he was on the floor last season and players like Stu Douglass or Zack Novak aren’t going to start attempting five or six more shots per game, it’s not their role. Tim Hardaway Jr. is really the only other player that’s comfortable in that high usage role in the Michigan offense. Burke has essentially shouldered the offensive workload and has proven extremely comfortable as the focal point of the Wolverine offense.
  When you look at Ohio State, there are an abundance of high usage guys that need shots. You have Jared Sullinger in the post, Will Buford on the wing and Deshaun Thomas attacking the basket. There are only so many shots to go around and all of these guys need the ball in good spots. Aaron Craft is the perfect player for this role. He makes his teammates better and makes everyone else on the floor better. For comparison, Burke takes 25.6% of Michigan’s shots while he’s on the floor while Craft takes 13.6% of Ohio State’s shots.
  This isn’t to say that Burke doesn’t make his teammates better, his assist rate is actually higher than Craft’s, or that Craft can’t score the ball, he has a higher offensive rating on the year. I’d also give the nod to Craft as the better defender at this point but Burke is plenty proficient on that end as well.
  The debate will go on and on given the fact that Ohio State didn’t recruit Burke and it will be fun to watch both players go head to head.

• centralbucksfan

  SportsAndLady;1068029 wrote:Ohio State will win.
  
  **waits til after the game to quote this and brag about my awesome prediction**
  
  **/cbf'd**

  Wow, ur obsession with me is a little disturbing. I know it hurts to look like an idiot, but get over it. BTW, I posted my prediction above in case you have trouble reading.
• WebFire

  Good analysis. Although, I'm not sure what an offensive rating is.
• vball10set

  WebFire;1068335 wrote:Good analysis. Although, I'm not sure what an offensive rating is.

  hope this helps
  
  

  "Offensive Rating" is a statistic used in basketball to measure either a team's offensive performance or an individual player's efficiency at producing points for the offense. It was created by author and statistician Dean Oliver.
  For teams, the formula is: 100 x Pts / (Tm FGA + .04 x Tm FTA - 1.07 x (Tm ORB / (Tm ORB + Tm DRB)) x (Tm FGA - Tm FG) + Tm TO)[SUP][1][/SUP]
  For players, the formula is: Offensive Rating = (Points Produced / Individual Possessions) x 100
  Points can be produced through field goals, free throws, assists, and offensive rebounds. Individual possessions are the sum of a player's scoring possessions (field goals, free throws, plus partial credit for assists), missed field goals and free throws that the defense rebounds, and turnovers.

• Hb31187

  

  http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/compare?add=aaron-craft&p1=trey-burke
  
  
  
  Pretty much the same across the board, Burkes a better scorer, and slightly better rebounder. Craft kills him in steals though.
  
  Craft may be leaps and bounds better defensively, but Burke is a much better offensive player.(yes i saw the rating)
• centralbucksfan

  vball10set;1068310 wrote:http://www.elevenwarriors.com/node

  Good read. But again, don't think there is a debate. OSU had Craft, as well as Scott in the bag. There was no need for another PG at this time. OSU had other needs in recruiting. Who knows what would have happened if OSU only had one PG in the bag. But there was no need for another.
  And I personally don't think its close when it comes to who is the better defender. I am not sure people realize just how good Craft is defensively. To have a guy who can put the pressure on the opposing PG like Craft does, is invaluable and a HUGE asset. One that often goes unnoticed and plays big in the overall defense for the rest of the team. I won't debate that Burke is a better offensive player. But I wouldn't trade Craft for anyother PG in the country right now. What he brings to the table often doesn't show up in the stat line.
• mallymal614

  Looking forward to watching Trey Burke's homecoming. I wonder if he will try to prove a point by not getting offered by the school in his own city. I understand Thad had Shannon Scott coming in but some people still feel Trey was snubbed. This might be his biggest offensive challenge going up against Craft. I can't wait to see that battle.
  
  When it comes to the game, Michigan has played us somewhat tough the past couple years. I wouldn't underestimate them. Heck, they're in the top 25 for a reason. But the Bucks seem to play better in front of the home crowd and one of it's evidence is the long home winning streak. We will see.
• bigdaddy2003

  

  Bucks by 15.
• vball10set

  centralbucksfan;1068376 wrote:Good read. But again, don't think there is a debate. OSU had Craft, as well as Scott in the bag. There was no need for another PG at this time. OSU had other needs in recruiting. Who knows what would have happened if OSU only had one PG in the bag. But there was no need for another.
  And I personally don't think its close when it comes to who is the better defender. I am not sure people realize just how good Craft is defensively. To have a guy who can put the pressure on the opposing PG like Craft does, is invaluable and a HUGE asset. One that often goes unnoticed and plays big in the overall defense for the rest of the team. I won't debate that Burke is a better offensive player. But I wouldn't trade Craft for anyother PG in the country right now. What he brings to the table often doesn't show up in the stat line.

  THIS!!!!
  
  And big fucking deal that Matta didn't offer Burke..he knows a helluva lot better than any of us the wants and needs of his team. If he wanted Burke, he would have offered Burke-period.
• Hb31187

  

  Matta must not like Northland Pgs, because he didnt take Devon Moore either, and this was when they were EMPTY at the pg position lol