4 things to watch: Michigan vs. Ohio State in Big Ten Tournament semifinal
INDIANAPOLIS -- So, who's better, exactly?
Michigan or Ohio State.
The Wolverines and Buckeyes have met twice this season, with each winning on its home floor. Ohio State won by 15 in Columbus in January, while the Wolverines grabbed a five-point win in front of ESPN's College GameDay in Ann Arbor.
On Saturday, the Michigan basketball team will have its rubber match with Ohio State (4 p.m., CBS) and a trip to the Big Ten Tournament championship game will be on the line.
Here are four things to watch:
Michigan senior captains Stu Douglass, above, and Zack Novak were held scoreless through the first 35 minutes of the Wolverines' 73-69 overtime win against Minnesota on Friday.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. were good enough Friday to beat Minnesota almost by themselves.
But Ohio State is not Minnesota. Not even close.
Novak and Douglass were both held scoreless for the first 35 minutes Friday. Against Ohio State, that can't happen.
Neither co-captain was overly sparkling during the Wolverines 56-51 win over the Buckeyes last month in Ann Arbor, but they did have a pulse, combining for 13 points.
Ohio State is going to rely on major contributions from three players, Jared Sullinger, William Buford and Deshaun Thomas. Michigan can likely counter with two on the scoreboard in Burke and Hardaway, but it definitely needs a third to produce -- and one of its two captains seem to fit the bill best.
Whether it's knocking down open 3-pointers, distributing, drawing charges or grabbing rebounds, Novak and Douglass have to have a presence Saturday.
Can Morgan do it again?
Jordan Morgan played out of his mind against Ohio State in Ann Arbor, and he's going to have to do it again Saturday in Indianapolis.
Morgan recorded the first double-double of his career in the face of Sullinger, putting up 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. At the same time, his defense against the Big Ten's best big man was outstanding.
Sullinger was flustered all night long at the Crisler Center, putting up 15 points, but only hitting 6 of 14 field goal attempts.
Ohio State's biggest interior weapon wasn't rendered useless, but Morgan was able to basically make things a push.
Morgan doesn't have to out-play Sullinger, but he does have to curb his damage. If Sullinger puts up anything close to the 30 points and 12 rebounds he had against Purdue on Friday, Michigan's in big-time trouble.
Ohio State's Aaron Craft, right, defends Purdue's Lewis Jackson during the Buckeyes' quarterfinal win on Friday.
AP Photo
In his past three games, Ohio State point guard Aaron Craft has racked up nine steals.
The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Craft is regarded as one of the best on-ball defenders in America, and Burke knows that all too well.
Burke was forced into five turnovers during Michigan's loss to OSU in Columbus earlier this season, thanks in large part to dogged defense by Craft.
In Ann Arbor, Burke did a better job of fighting through Craft's physical approach, and kept himself under control on screen-and-roll attempts, as well as any type of one-on-one matchup.
In fact, Burke's dominance of Craft in the game's final minute proved to be the difference. The Michigan floor leader blew by Craft for a layup to put the Wolverines up five in the game's closing moments, and then blocked Craft's shot attempt at the other end on the ensuing possession.
Craft finished the game 1-for-6 from the floor, while Burke dropped in 17 points.
Burke's not likely to put up 30 points again Saturday, but in the end, he has to win the one-on-one battle with Ohio State's bulldog defender.
Control the pace, remain calm
Since Ohio State's loss to Michigan in February, the Buckeyes have seemed to regain their focus.
Apart from a senior night loss to Wisconsin, OSU scored a gritty road win at Northwestern, blew out Illinois, shocked Michigan State in East Lansing and blasted Purdue by 20 in Indianapolis.
During the final 20 minutes against MSU and for the full 40 against Purdue, Ohio State looked very much like the team everyone expected it would be earlier this season, a team loaded with talent and the potential to dominate anyone in front of it.
On Saturday, Ohio State will be more fresh. Michigan needed overtime to beat Minnesota. In turn, the Wolverines need to force Ohio State to play at their pace.
The game in Ann Arbor was played in the 50s, with Michigan taking advantage of every possession, and seemingly controlling the ball for 75 percent of the game. That has to happen again Saturday.
If Ohio State is allowed to get out on the break, or scramble for wide open 3-point attempts, Michigan's in trouble.
But, if Michigan can shoot a strong percentage (it shot 46.8 percent vs. OSU in Ann Arbor) and pack in the lane defensively, forcing the Buckeyes to maximize the shot clock, it definitely has a chance.
There won't be any serious home crowd advantage, no extensive travel and no outside factors giving one team an advantage over another.
Michigan has to play under control, limit turnovers and not let itself fall apart emotionally if the Buckeyes make a run.
Calm down, be deliberate and give yourself a shot in the game's closing minutes.
Because if we've learned anything this season, it's that Michigan somehow always finds a way in a neck-and-neck game down the stretch.
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
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Comments
Goofus
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
Better hide that scarlet and grey jersey from last sunday down deep in the laundry hamper, Big Blue!
Mick52
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 7:22 p.m.
I lament about the over emphasis on scoring as the key to winning. I think the team that will win will be the team that plays the best defense. If a player is not hitting shots, his duty should become concentrating on other parts of the game, defense, rebounding, steals, assists, taking charges and so on.
Goofus
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 7:12 p.m.
Will all the Michigan fan from last Sunday be rooting for OSU this time around? Sorry, couldn't resist.
rocco
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 6:17 p.m.
I'll be cheering for the Wolverines but I see this as a statement game for OSU. That Michigan came into the Big 10 tournament a higher seed than OSU must grate on the Buckeyes. Recall that there were times earlier in the season (after OSU blew out Duke) when sports anlyists were saying that OSU stood far above the rest of the conference. It didn't turn out that way, and OSU seems determind to recapture some of that lost glory. While he will give his all, Burke cannot be expected to have back to back 30 point games. Sullinger will also try to school Morgan which I think he can. Buford is also back on track as a top shooter in the conferenc. I don't see a close game, but at least a 10 point win by the Buckeyes. On to the Big Dance!
heartbreakM
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 6:01 p.m.
Before the tournament, I predicted that Ohio would win it. I still think that is the case, but Michigan just has something that makes it a difficult team to play. Big heart? Desire? Fundamentals? Of course, if the 3's aren't falling, they are not so hard to beat. That said, I think Nick, that you overlook the contributions of Stu and Novak last night. They were key down the stretch--as important as any bucket that Burke had. Other than a 10 minute stretch where Hardaway scored a lot, he still looked sort of stiff out there and hung out on the wing, whereas the 2 seniors defended well, disrupted Minnesota and got those key buckets and for Douglass, that assist with 20 seconds left. Also, has Ohio really been up to potential in the last 4 games? They would have lost to State if not for that MSU injury. They lost at home to Wisconsin ( a good team, yes, but still it's a home game); they barely held off Northwestern. I'm not sure that Ohio has really found the groove quite yet.