NBA Draft predictions for Burke, Hardaway Jr.

The NBA Draft takes place tonight and a pair of Michigan Wolverines should be featured in the first round.

Here are my predictions for where Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. will end up.

Trey Burke – No. 7 to the Sacramento Kings

Burke has been a bit of a mystery leading up to the draft. He has been projected as high as No. 2, but is now being projected at No. 12 to Oklahoma City by ESPN Insider Chad Ford. I think Burke will find himself more in the middle of that, to Sacramento at No. 7. The Kings could use Burke’s ball-handling and scoring ability for their team that seems to constantly be in rebuilding mode. Michigan fans won’t be happy to see Burke taken 7^th, because the Pistons could be an option at 8.

Tim Hardaway Jr. – No. 27 to the Denver Nuggets

I have seen a lot of mock drafts putting Hardaway to the Clippers at 25, but I think the draft will shake out a little differently and he will find himself in Denver. The Nuggets could use Hardaway’s skills in their fast-paced offense. Brian Shaw may have a different style of coaching than George Karl, but the Nuggets are built to push the floor and Hardaway would be a great option for them because of his ability to play multiple positions.

Bonus Pick – Detroit Pistons No. 8 – Michael Carter-Williams

I think Carter-Williams would be the best option for the Pistons, unless one of the top players fall back to them. Detroit needs to find itself a true point guard that can distribute the ball to the young bigs like Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. This would also allow Brandon Knight to play more of a small guard role and then fill in a point when needed. Carter-Williams could be a bust, but the 6-6 point guard has a lot of potential.

Burke or Hardaway - Who has the better NBA career?

It’s been a while.

I went into a little bit of hibernation from the blog with basketball season ending, but am ready to start things back up this week with the NBA Draft looming and the college football season not too far off.

The big focus of this week is on the 2013 NBA Draft and the future of Michigan guards Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr.

It’s funny how things have changed for both men since the college season ended.

It was a slam-dunk decision for Burke to opt for the NBA Draft, but Hardaway’s decision to leave seemed somewhat questionable.

However, the momentum of both players seems to be turning. Burke will still be a lottery pick, but his stock seems to be sliding. Hardaway started as an expected second-round pick, but is now working his way into the first round and still climbing each day.

ESPN Insider Chad Ford lists Burke as No. 9 on his NBA Draft big board, while Hardaway Jr. has climbed up to a tie for 24^th.

Burke is stuck in-between positions, as he is a shooting guard/point guard mixture. Burke will look to score and not just be a floor general, but he still has the skills to run the floor.

Hardaway has been impressive in his workouts, with Ford indicating he could go anywhere from seventh to 27^th, but he still is a work in progress.

Hardaway Jr. has the raw talent to be great in the NBA, just like his father. He could be a mid-to-late first round pick that ends up being a huge success for an NBA franchise.

Burke, however, seems to be riding that boom or bust moniker right now. Is he too small? Will his game translate to the NBA level? Can he be a franchise player?

Time will tell on both, but here is your chance to share your thoughts on both players.

Who will have the more successful NBA career?

Trey Burke to go down as one of Michigan's all-time greats

Nobody is really surprised that Trey Burke is entering the NBA Draft.

It’s almost been a foregone conclusion since midseason.

Burke made his decision to leave Michigan for the NBA Draft official on Sunday afternoon and the country is now deprived of a great player with two years of eligibility left.

Burke, though he played for just two years, will go down as one of the all-time greats to wear a Michigan uniform.

Stats aside, Burke cemented his legacy at Michigan by helping the Wolverines get to the national championship game. There is no question that he didn’t always play his best during the tournament run, but his efforts in the comeback against Kansas were legendary in their own right.

While Burke came up short in getting Michigan the national championship, he does leave the program with a Big Ten title and a Final Four to his credit.

He may not go down as the greatest Wolverine in history, but he has to be close. Burke’s impact has a little more of a greater impact because he was the one to lead Michigan back to a national level of success the program hadn’t had since the Fab Five days.

Michigan is a lot better off as a program with Burke leaving than it was when he arrived. If Michigan is ever able to get back to a national title game, or even win the championship, Burke will deserve some credit for building the foundation of success.

I am not sure what awaits him in the NBA, or how his game will translate to the next level, but I enjoyed watching him compete this past season. You could tell he really left it all on the floor when the game was over.

How hard will Michigan be hit by the 2013 NBA Draft?

It was a great run for Michigan.

I for one didn’t see the Wolverines coming within six points of a national championship at the end of the regular season, but Michigan really played its best basketball at the right time.

There are plenty of ways you can analyze Monday’s game. You can be critical of the coaches or players or the refs, but I am just going to let that all go.

Michigan had a great season and accomplished something big for its program by reaching the national championship game. I didn’t think John Beilein was a coach capable of taking Michigan to that next level, but he proved me wrong and he deserves credit for that. I think he has secured his spot as head coach of the Wolverines for a long time to come.

This season had the makings of being a disappointing one after Michigan failed to win a Big Ten title of any kind, but the Final Four and national championship game appearances made up for all that.

This last month can do a lot for the Michigan program going forward. It should do a lot for recruiting, which is already going well for the Wolverines (three ESPN Top 100 recruits joining the team next season).

Next season will certainly be interesting for Michigan, but the big question heading into the offseason is who will be back for the Wolverines?

Four of Michigan’s starting five all have the potential to leave for the NBA.

It is more than expected that Trey Burke is leaving. The sophomore point guard nearly left after his freshman year, but decided to stay. Now he is the National Player of the Year and doesn’t have any reason to come back outside of wanting to win a national title. I’d be shocked if Burke returned. He is a guaranteed lottery pick.

Junior Tim Hardaway Jr. also seems set to leave. I personally think he could benefit from coming back and being the focal point of the Michigan offense. Hardaway disappeared at times throughout the season and another year to develop his shot would be beneficial in my opinion. His family pedigree helps his draft status, but I am not sure he’s ready.

Glenn Robinson III also has the family background to go pro, but I really think he needs a second year of college. The freshman has good length, at 6-6, but I think he could use another year in a strength and conditioning program to bulk up a little bit. He was frequently out-muscled when playing defense this year and became somewhat of a defensive liability for Michigan. With his athleticism, Robinson III can be a great pro player if he develops his shot. He was just a 32 percent shooting from 3-point land and 67 percent shooter at the free-throw line.

Mitch McGary wasn’t really on the NBA radar entering the tournament, but he certainly is now. I don’t expect him to leave, but his stocker has never been better. He already has pretty good size at 6-10, 250 pounds, and his outside shooting has noticeably improved. McGary also runs the floor well and has great court awareness. I still think it would be wise for him to return to Michigan and work on his post moves and try to develop his scoring inside with both hands. I think McGary could really dominate if he continues to develop. He would be a featured player for Michigan and I think he could be a Player of the Year Candidate with another year of progress.

So, of the four, how many do you think will return. Right now, I think Burke and Hardaway Jr. are leaving. I am on the fence about Robinson III. He may not feel comfortable coming back with the others leaving, or he could embrace the challenge of having to be a featured player. I think McGary will be back for sure, which will help Michigan a great deal.

How many players will leave Michigan for the NBA?

Michigan vs. Louisville National Championship Game Breakdown & Prediction

No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 1 Louisville

Time: 9:20PM ET

Venue: Georgia Dome

TV: CBS

Records: Michigan 31-7; Louisville 34-5

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (18.5 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (6.3 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.8 apg); Steals – Burke (1.6 spg).

Louisville stat leaders: Points – Russ Smith (18.9 ppg); Rebounds – Gorgui Dieng (9.4 rpg); Assists – Peyton Siva (5.7 apg); Steals – Siva (2.2 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan W5, Louisville W15

Point Spread: Louisville -4

Prediction: Well, it all comes down to this. On paper, this should be an outstanding game. Both teams like to push the pace on offense and get in transition. Louisville has an aggressive defense, but could be exposed by a team like Michigan that handles the ball well. Michigan’s defense will have its hands full, but the Wolverines should be able to pose some problems for Louisville’s top scorer, Russ Smith. Smith stands just 6-1, which means 6-6 Tim Hardaway Jr. should be able to contest his shots. Smith has scored at least 21 points in all five tournament games. If Michigan can slow him down, it severely hurts Louisville’s chances to win. The Louisville defense has the luxury of having 6-11 center Gorgui Dieng patrolling the paint. Similar to Kansas’ Jeff Withey, Dieng has racked up a lot of blocks this season and he alters a lot of shots with his length. Michigan will have a hard time scoring with dribble penetration when Dieng is on the floor, but that could also setup Mitch McGary to get some easy points if Trey Burke can draw Dieng away from him. Michigan is fully capable of winning this game, but the Wolverines will need a solid 40 minutes to do so. Michigan can’t struggle down the stretch like it did against Syracuse. Louisville will do a better job of capitalizing on Michigan’s mistakes. The Cardinals have also faced plenty of deficits toward the end of the season and still rallied to win. No matter what Michigan does on Monday, Louisville won’t give up. The Cardinals have the better coach in Rick Pitino (in my opinion) and I think that will play a big role in this game. Though Michigan is playing a high level, I picked Louisville to win it all when the field was announced, so I am not backing away from that pick now. Louisville 72, Michigan 69

Michigan vs. Syracuse Breakdown & Prediction

No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 4 Syracuse

Time: 8:50PM ET

Venue: Georgia Dome

TV: CBS

Records: Michigan 30-7; Syracuse 30-9

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (18.8 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (6.2 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.8 apg); Steals – Burke (1.6 spg).

Syracuse stat leaders: Points – C.J. Fair (14.3 ppg); Rebounds – Fair (7.0 rpg); Assists – Michael Carter-Williams (7.4 apg); Steals – Carter-Williams (2.8 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan W4, Syracuse W4

Point Spread: Michigan -1.5

Prediction: Similar to the game with VCU, this game is being hyped up as the Michigan offense vs. the Syracuse defense. Instead of “havoc” the Orange will look to slow down Michigan with its 2-3 zone defense. Thus far in the tournament the zone defense has been very impressive for the Orange, holding Indiana to 50 points and Marquette to 39. However, Michigan seems to be clicking on offense and the Wolverines have the ability to beat the zone with its 3-point shooting. However, the key to that is for Michigan to actually hit the shots. The Wolverines can’t expect Nik Stauskas to go 6-for-6 from the 3-point line again, but Tim Hardaway Jr. could heat up and Trey Burke is always a threat to hit from deep. Michigan will also need to continue to get points in the paint from Mitch McGary, who has done a good job of finishing inside in the tournament. The true key to this game could be how Michigan defends Syracuse. The Orange have plenty of athletes and plenty of length. Michigan will have a hard time matching up on defense, so rebounding will again be a key on that end. If Syracuse is able to get multiple chances on the offensive end, it will be able to beat Michigan. We have seen Syracuse go in plenty of offensive funks in games throughout the season, and I think the Orange will fall into a funk at some point in this game. Michigan may not shoot the lights out, but I don’t think it will need to. The Wolverines seem to have it all working right now and I think John Beilein will have the right approach to attacking the zone and Michigan will move on to the national championship. Michigan 66, Syracuse 60

Michigan vs. Florida Breakdown & Prediction

No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 3 Florida

Time: 2:20PM ET

Venue: Cowboys Stadium

TV: CBS

Records: Michigan 29-7; Florida 29-7

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (18.9 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (6.1 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.8 apg); Steals – Burke (1.6 spg).

Florida stat leaders: Points – Mike Rosario/Erik Murphy (12.6 ppg); Rebounds – Patric Young (6.3 rpg); Assists – Scottie Wilbekin (4.9 apg); Steals – Wilbekin (1.4 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan W3, Florida W3

Point Spread: Florida -2.5

Prediction: I am a little surprised Florida is favored. I think Michigan has the momentum on its side with its improbable comeback against Kansas, and Florida hasn’t faced much of a difficult road to get to this game, beating a double-digit seed in every game in the tournament. Florida has been a tough team defensively, but its offense is lacking. The Gators also played in a down SEC conference while Michigan had to battle it out in the Big Ten. I think the Wolverines are more battle tested than the Gators and Michigan has the better athletes. The only way I see Michigan losing this game is if it plays into Florida’s hands with its approach on offense. I do expect the Gators to get some easy baskets along the way, but Michigan will be able to outscore the Gators as long as it takes care of the basketball and shoots reasonably well. I think Michigan gets to its first Final Four since 1993 (first recognized Final Four since 1976). Michigan 69, Florida 62

A second look at Michigan's improbable comeback over Kansas

Friday’s Sweet 16 game between Michigan and Kansas featured one of the more improbable finishes in tournament history and surely was one of the most memorable wins in the history of Michigan’s men’s basketball program.

Things got really crazy with three minutes to go in the game, Kansas leading 70-62. I went back and re-watched the game from this point. Here is what I saw, ultimately knowing the unlikely outcome.

2:52: Kansas’ Jeff Withey puts home a one-handed slam on a nice pass under the basket from Kevin Young. Kansas leads 72-62. That dunk seemed to be the final nail in Michigan’s coffin at the time.

2:25: After Tim Hardaway Jr. misses a pair of shots, including a 3-pointer, Kansas’ Elijah Johnson makes a poor decision on the other end and attacks the paint instead of slowing things down to let time run off the clock. Facing a trap from Hardaway and Trey Burke, he lobs a pass toward the top of the key to Withey, but Glenn Robinson III makes a great play to tip it away. He then tracks the ball down on the other end and slams it home in stride to make it 72-64 and give Michigan new life. It was one of a few key plays down the stretch from Robinson, and one of a few big mistakes from Johnson.

2:03: Johnson makes another poor decision, lazily bringing the ball up the floor after the Robinson dunk. Burke defends him hard and draws a 10-second violation. There was no reason for Johnson to allow this to happen. Two huge turnovers in less than 30 seconds for Johnson and Kansas.

1:52: Burke patiently works his way into the lane, drawing Withey to step up and get vertical. Burke passes under Withey to Mitch McGary, who finishes the easy lay-in. 72-66 Kansas. Four crucial points off the two Johnson turnovers, and those two baskets really seemed to give Michigan the momentum.

1:22: McGary called for a foul when he attempts to block a dunk attempt by Kansas’ Travis Releford. The replay shows a clean block, but it looked bad in live action. Releford hits both free throws. 74-66 Kansas.

1:14: Wasting little time, Burke hits an NBA 3-pointer over Withey to make it 74-69. Michigan with a time out after the score.

0:28.8: Michigan elects not to foul. Kansas gets a good look at the basket with Ben McLemore getting inside the paint, but he misses the off-balanced shot. Jordan Morgan rebounds it and gets it to Burke, who make a great down-court pass to Hardaway, who is wide open on the wing for 3. Hardaway misses again, but in a scramble for the rebound, Robinson gets it and hits a tough reverse lay-in to make it 74-71. Beilein uses his final time out. Robinson again comes up with a big hustle play.

0:21.0: Caris LeVert fouls Johnson. He hits both free throws in a 1&1 situation. 76-71 Kansas.

0:14.0: With Withey not on the floor, Burke quickly attacks the lane and gets a lay-in, 76-73. Michigan then quickly fouls Johnson again.

0:12.6: Johnson misses the first of a 1&1. Hardaway boards and gets it to Burke, which leads to…..

0:04.2: Burke hits drains an amazing 3-pointer, nearly halfway between half court and the 3-point line. We all knew Burke had range, but this shot is incredible. Game tied 76-76. Kansas takes a time out. Young nearly gets a piece of the shot on replay. Kansas really couldn’t have done anything short of fouling Burke before the shot, but I don’t think anyone expected him to launch it from there with 5 seconds left on the clock. That shot will go down in Michigan history. If the Wolverines go on to win a national title, that shot will be the equivalent of the Tayshaun Prince block of Reggie Miller in the Pistons’ 2004 run to the championship.

0:00: Naadir Tharpe misses a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Tharpe had a great look as LeVert oddly playing very far off him. It could have cost Michigan the game. You’d like to see a player challenge defensively and at least make Tharpe take an off-balanced shot. I understand the concern about fouling, but he gave Tharpe far too much room.

Overtime

4:30: Young gets an easy lay-in under the basket. Robinson tried to double up Withey, who was already being well defended by McGary. Robinson got too aggressive and left his man open for the easy 2. 78-76 Kansas.

4:01: Burke hits another NBA 3-pointer at the top of the key. Withey doesn’t step out at all to challenge and Burke is on another planet right now. 79-78 Michigan. First lead for the Wolverines since it was 9-8.

3:47: Releford hits two free throws after a blocking foul. Kansas regains the lead, 80-79.

3:20: Burke does it again, dribbling down McLemore before hitting a long 2 in his face. Nothing but net. Michigan leads, 81-80. Kansas just can’t do anything to stop him at this point.

2:34: After Nik Stauskas misses a wide-open 3-pointer on the baseline, Kansas runs the floor and Young gets a lay-in in transition. Kansas 82-81. It was the final lead for the Jayhawks.

2:15: McGary hits a tough turnaround jumper on the baseline with Withey in his face. One of the better shots I have seen McGary hit. Michigan leads 83-82.

1:04: Burke attempts a one-handed runner that goes long. Withey has the rebounding position, but Robinson again comes up big, tipping the ball out of Withey’s hands. McGary collects it for a quick lay-in. Michigan leads 85-82. Kansas calls a time out.

0:52.1: Robinson comes up big once again. Johnson tries to pass behind himself again and Robinson gets his long arm on the ball and gets fouled before he can breakaway for an easy 2. In a big moment, Robinson hits both free throws to close out the scoring for Michigan. Wolverines lead 87-82.

0:45.0: Johnson hits a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Michigan leads 87-85. Good shot coming off a screen.

0:09.4: Burke unable to put the game away, as Withey gets a piece of his runner. The shot clock expires during a scramble. After a lengthy video review, Kansas gets the ball with 9.4 left.

0:00.0: Johnson goes coast-to-coast and drives to the baseline. It looks like he could have taken a runner from an odd angle to tie the game, but had Morgan following behind him for a possible block. Johnson instead wildly kicks the ball out to Tharpe, who has to throw up a contested one-legged 3-point shot that hits hard off the glass and misses. Michigan wins, 87-85.

There were so many big moments in this final 8 minutes of play. Obviously McGary had a great game and Burke had a legendary second half and overtime, but Robinson III deserves a lot of credit in the comeback. He had a rough game defensively and was out-muscled a number of times by Kansas players, but he came through in a big way. Without his hustle plays, Burke never gets a chance to become a legend.

Michigan vs. Kansas Breakdown & Prediction

No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 1 Kansas

Time: 7:37PM ET

Venue: Cowboys Stadium

TV: TBS

Records: Michigan 28-7; Kansas 31-5

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (18.8 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (5.9 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.7 apg); Steals – Burke (1.6 spg).

Kansas stat leaders: Points – Ben McLemore (15.8 ppg); Rebounds – Jeff Withey (8.5 rpg); Assists – Elijah Johnson (4.7 apg); Steals – Travis Releford (1.3 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan W2, Kansas W5

Point Spread: Kansas -2

Prediction: This is obviously one of the biggest games, if not the biggest, Michigan has had in quite some time. A spot in the Elite 8 is on the line and the winner of this game could easily be favored to reach the Final Four out of the South Region. Michigan looked fantastic last week at The Palace, but are the Wolverines going to be able to take that show on the road? There is no secret that Michigan struggled away from Ann Arbor toward the end of the season. Kansas will likely have the crowd support for this game and playing in a big stadium like this can sometimes impact a team’s shooting as they get accustomed to the size of the building. Michigan will need to shoot well from the outside. Kansas center Jeff Withey does a great job of defending in the post and altering shots from guards as they try to attack the lane. If Michigan isn’t able to shoot consistently well from the perimeter, I don’t think it can win. Michigan will also need to defend well. Kansas hasn’t shot that well in the first two tournament games, but the Jayhawks can get hot quickly. Ultimately I think Michigan can win, but I need the Wolverines to prove to me they can win away from home in a big game. I just get the sense that some of the young players will go AWOL again and keep Michigan from getting this victory. Kansas 72, Michigan 65

VCU vs. Michigan Breakdown & Prediction

No. 5 VCU vs. No. 4 Michigan

Preview story

Time: 12:15PM ET

Venue: The Palace of Auburn Hills

TV: CBS

Records: VCU 27-8; Michigan 27-7

VCU stat leaders: Points – Treveon Graham (15.2 ppg); Rebounds – Juvonte Reddic (8.2 rpg); Assists – Darius Theus (4.9 apg); Steals – Briante Weber (2.7 spg).

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (18.8 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (5.6 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.7 apg); Steals – Burke (1.6 spg).

Current Streaks: VCU W1, Michigan W1

Point Spread: Michigan -3.5

Prediction: I have gone back and forth on this game. I really think it should be a fantastic contest. I think VCU will pose its problems for Michigan with the aggressive press, but I also think the Wolverines will find their fair share of transition baskets thanks to their solid ball handling. Michigan will turn it over more than usual, but it will also get some good looks at the basket in the paint and from 3-point land. With the game being at The Palace, and Michigan getting the support from the crowd, I see it shooting well. The real key will be how well Michigan plays on defense and if it can keep VCU from getting high-percentage looks. In the end, I think Michigan will do just enough to win. Michigan 76, VCU 71

South Dakota State vs. Michigan Breakdown & Prediction

No. 13 South Dakota State vs. No. 4 Michigan

Time: 7:15PM ET

Venue: The Palace of Auburn Hills

TV: CBS

Records: South Dakota State 25-9; Michigan 26-7

South Dakota State stat leaders: Points – Nate Wolters (22.7 ppg); Rebounds – Jordan Dykstra (7.9 rpg); Assists – Wolters (5.8 apg); Steals – Wolters (1.8 spg).

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (19.2 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (5.5 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.7 apg); Steals – Burke (1.6 spg).

Current Streaks: South Dakota State W4, Michigan L1

Point Spread: Michigan -11.5

Prediction: I think this is going to be a reasonably difficult opening game for Michigan. South Dakota State is no joke. The Jackrabbits have tremendous scoring ability and one of the top players in the entire tournament in Nate Wolters. South Dakota State is also in its second straight tournament appearance, so it won’t be overwhelmed by the environment and opponent. Despite all that, I think Michigan will win, because I think the Wolverines will be able to outscore the Jackrabbits. South Dakota State needs Wolters to give them a certain about of points, and if he can’t do that, the Jackrabbits will not be able to win. Michigan is able to survive if Trey Burke isn’t quite his usual self, as long as guys like Tim Hardaway Jr., Nik Stauskas, Mitch McGary or Glenn Robinson III step up. With Michigan being close to home and having a solid crowd behind it, I think the Wolverines will play composed and comfortable, and do enough to get the win tonight. Michigan 75, South Dakota State 68

Michigan vs. Wisconsin Breakdown & Prediction

No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 22 Wisconsin

Time: 2:25PM ET

Venue: United Center

TV: ESPN

Records: Michigan 26-6, 12-6 Big Ten; Wisconsin 21-10, 12-6

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (19.2 ppg); Rebounds – Glenn Robinson III (5.5 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.8 apg); Steals – Burke (1.6 spg).

Wisconsin stat leaders: Points – Jared Berggren (11.5 ppg); Rebounds – Ryan Evans (7.5 rpg); Assists – Traevon Jackson (2.8 apg); Steals – Jackson (1.0 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan W1, Wisconsin W1

Point Spread: Michigan -3

Prediction: Similar to the win over Penn State, I would expect Michigan to play a highly-motivated game against Wisconsin on Friday. The Badgers gave the Wolverines one of their toughest losses of the season in Madison. Michigan clearly has more talent than the Badgers. The only way for Wisconsin to win is to out-work the Wolverines and dominate the glass, which is possible. However, I think Michigan will build off its strong second half against Penn State and match Wisconsin’s defensive intensity. It won’t take a ton of points to beat the Badgers, so Michigan just needs to be aggressive and create open looks on the perimeter through dribble penetration. In the end, I see Michigan winning by double digits. Michigan 66, Wisconsin 55

Indiana at Michigan Breakdown & Prediction

No. 2 Indiana at No. 7 Michigan

Time: 4PM ET

Venue: Crisler Center

TV: CBS

Records: Indiana 25-5, 13-4 Big Ten; Michigan 25-5, 12-5

Indiana stat leaders: Points – Cody Zeller (16.5 ppg); Rebounds – Zeller (8.0 rpg); Assists – Kevin Ferrell (4.3 apg); Steals – Victor Oladipo (2.3 spg).

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (19.1 ppg); Rebounds – Glenn Robinson III (5.5 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.9 apg); Steals – Burke (1.6 spg).

Current Streaks: Indiana L1, Michigan W2

Point Spread: Even

Prediction: I’m pretty torn on this one. Indiana has bounced back strong from all of its losses this season, but Michigan hasn’t lost yet at home. The Wolverines will need a full team effort to get this win. Michigan can’t afford to have some starters disappear as it has had in some of its road losses. Defense will be key as well. Michigan has proven it can play good defense in stretches, but it needs to make a commitment to defending against Indiana on Sunday. Ohio State showed that Indiana will back down to physical play, but the Wolverines aren’t known for throwing their weight around. Trey Burke can put his stamp on Big Ten, and maybe even National, Player of the Year honors if he leads Michigan to the win. I think he does that on Sunday. There is something about being at home that makes Michigan a tougher team, mentally and physically. It will be a grind until the end, but I think the Wolverines do a favor for MSU and Ohio State by beating the Hoosiers and creating a 4-way tie for the conference title. Michigan 70, Indiana 66

Michigan at Purdue Breakdown & Prediction

No. 7 Michigan at Purdue

Time: 7PM ET

Venue: Mackey Arena

TV: Big Ten Network

Records: Michigan 24-5, 11-5 Big Ten; Purdue 14-15, 7-9

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (18.9 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (5.6 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.9 apg); Steals – Ronnie Johnson (0.9 spg).

Purdue stat leaders: Points – Terone Johnson (12.9 ppg); Rebounds – A.J. Hammons (6.3 rpg); Assists – Ronnie Johnson (3.9 apg); Steals – Frazier (2.3 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan W1, Purdue W1

Point Spread: Michigan -6

Prediction: Michigan has new life with Ohio State beating Indiana in Bloomington on Tuesday night. The Wolverines should come into this game with focus and motivation. If the ability to win the Big Ten title wasn’t motivation enough, last week’s loss at Penn State should be. Michigan had a strong second half against Michigan State last Sunday, and that can be something it can build on. Purdue is coming off its biggest win of the season, winning at Wisconsin, 69-56. The Boilermakers can be a dangerous team if they shoot the ball well, but they haven’t shown much consistency in a 40-minute game throughout the season. I don’t feel good about saying Michigan should win easy, because it clearly hasn’t been at its best for a while, but I do think the Wolverines come out strong and win comfortably at Purdue. Michigan 66, Purdue 56

What kind of run will Michigan make in the NCAA Tournament?

Trying to figure out this Michigan basketball team has been difficult.

Prior to non-conference play, I would have been willing to put money on the Wolverines reaching the Final Four this season.

After the loss to Penn State, I would have put money on Michigan to lose early in the NCAA Tournament.

Now, after a grind-it-out win over Michigan State, I am not sure what to think.

I still feel like Michigan is a team that has lost its swagger. The Wolverines still have too many players that seem lost and shy away from the big moment. Ultimately, if Michigan is going to make a deep tournament run, it needs someone other than Trey Burke to step up from time to time.

The NCAA Tournament is just a few weeks away, so there is plenty of time for Michigan to alter my perception of what it will do in the Big Dance.

Sometimes it is the team that is struggling prior to the tournament that pieces it all together at the right time to make a magical run.

Sometimes when a team struggles away from home, the high-pressure of a NCAA Tournament game can be too much for it to handle.

After losing Penn State, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Michigan be one of the big first round upsets in the NCAA Tournament.

However, the talent Michigan possesses is great enough that it can make a run to the national championship.

With the Big Ten title out of the equation (I don’t see Indiana losing at home to Ohio State), the determination of a successful season for Michigan all depends on postseason play.

What are your thoughts?

Just what will Michigan do in the NCAA Tournament?

How far will Michigan get in the NCAA Tournament?

Michigan State at Michigan Breakdown & Prediction

No. 9 Michigan State at No. 4 Michigan

Time: 4 p.m.

Venue: Crisler Center

TV: CBS

Records: Michigan State 22-6, 11-4 Big Ten; Michigan 23-5, 10-5

Michigan State stat leaders: Points – Keith Appling (13.4 ppg); Rebounds – Adreian Payne (7.3 rpg); Assists – Appling (3.8 apg); Steals – Branden Dawson (1.7 spg).

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (18.8 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (5.6 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.9 apg); Steals – Burke (1.4 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan State L2, Michigan L1

Point Spread: Michigan -4

Prediction: Both teams are coming into this game a bit wounded by losses. Michigan State has suffered a pair of close losses to Indiana and Ohio State, while Michigan suffered an embarrassing loss to Penn State during the week. This win is crucial to both teams, not so much for the Big Ten race, but for NCAA Tournament seeding. Michigan has gone from being an expected No. 1 seed, to seeing a three or four seed in its future if it doesn’t get back on track. MSU still has a shot at the Big Ten Title if it wins out, and an impressive Big Ten Tournament showing could still give the Spartans a potential No. 1 seed. When it comes to Sunday’s game, I see it all coming down to toughness, both physical and mental. The Spartans dominated the toughness category in a 75-52 win over Michigan at the Breslin on Feb. 12. The Spartans dominated in all aspects of the game and took the Wolverines out mentally. Michigan had mental lapses and poor defense cost it against Penn State, and defense has been a big question mark for the Wolverines’ in their last seven games. Say what you will about talent, it doesn’t mean much if Michigan refuses to toughen up defensively. The Wolverines can’t allow MSU to control the paint like the first meeting, and Glenn Robinson III can’t check out mentally when called upon. Despite riding a two-game losing streak, Michigan State still has a clear toughness advantage over Michigan. Keith Appling had one of the worst weeks of basketball he will ever have, yet the Spartans lost two games to two ranked teams by a combined 12 points. Appling will be motivated to get out of his funk and rise to the challenge of facing off with Trey Burke. Michigan will also be up for the challenge of hosting MSU and getting payback, but I don’t see that being enough to beat the Spartans. I trust Tom Izzo over John Beilein, and Michigan has proven to wilt under pressure as of late. Unless the Wolverines shoot over 50 percent for the game, I don’t see them winning. Give me the Spartans in a season sweep. Michigan State 70, Michigan 64

Michigan at Penn State Breakdown & Prediction

No. 4 Michigan at Penn State

Time: 6:30PM ET

Venue: Bryce Jordan Center

TV: Big Ten Network

Records: Michigan 23-4, 10-4; Penn State 8-18, 0-14

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (18.9 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (5.7 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.9 apg); Steals – Burke (1.4 spg).

Penn State stat leaders: Points – Tim Frazier (16.3 ppg); Rebounds – Ross Travis (7.0 rpg); Assists – D.J. Newbill (4.0 apg); Steals – Frazier (2.3 spg).

Current Streaks: Michigan W2, Penn State L14

Point Spread: Michigan -13

Prediction: The second half of Michigan’s win over Illinois was the best basketball the team had played in weeks. Penn State gave the Wolverines a little bit of a scare in Ann Arbor, but Michigan has new life in the Big Ten race, thanks to Indiana’s loss to Minnesota. Technically speaking, Michigan controls its own destiny in the conference race, as it can win a share of the title if it ends the season 4-0. I don’t expect Michigan to come out flat in this one. The Wolverines know they need to put this game away early and start preparing for its game with Michigan State on Sunday. Michigan 72, Penn State 58.

Illinois at Michigan Breakdown & Prediction

Illinois at No 7 Michigan

Time: 1PM ET

Venue: Crisler Center

TV: ESPN

Records: Illinois 20-8, 7-7 Big Ten, Michigan 22-4, 9-4

Illinois stat leaders: Points – Brandon Paul (16.4 ppg); Rebounds – Joseph Bertrand/Nnanna Egwu (4.5 rpg); Assists – Tracy Abrams (3.5 apg); Steals – D.J. Richardson (1.5 spg).

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (18.6 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (5.9 rpg); Assists – Burke (6.9 apg); Steals – Burke (1.5 spg).

Current Streaks: Illinois W5, Michigan W1

Point Spread: Michigan -11

Prediction: Illinois has really built off its win over Indiana, as the Illini have a nice five-game winning streak right now. The Wolverines handed Illinois a bad loss on the road, but both teams seem to be in a different place right now. Illinois is playing as well as it has all conference season, while Michigan is still recovering from a string of road losses. I do think Michigan wins this contest, but Illinois is going to be a much tougher out this time around. The Wolverines need to start sparking on defense to build some confidence for a late run at the Big Ten title. It can start on Sunday, but I don’t think it will. Michigan 69, Illinois 66.

Is Oladipo the clear Big Ten Player of the Year?

A lot of the debate following Indiana’s win over Michigan State on Tuesday night has been more about “is Victor Oladipo the Big Ten Player of the Year” as opposed to the importance of the win for the Hoosiers.

In regards to the win, it was huge for Indiana. The Hoosiers are now the clear favorite to win the Big Ten, and likely have at least a share of the title.

But, this blog is about the B1G Player of the Year and if Oladipo is in fact the deserving winner right now.

Here is a look at the guys that appear to be the leading candidates:

Victor Oladipo, Indiana – Oladipo isn’t the top scorer on his own team, or even the leading rebounder, but he does so many things that impact the game. Right now he is averaging 14 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He is also shooting 63.9 percent from the field and an impressive 51.1 percent from 3-point land. He leads the Big Ten in steals by a significant mark. He ranks in the top 15 of the Big Ten in points, rebounds and blocks. He is a great on-the-ball defender and has tremendous instincts when it comes to making plays on either side of the ball. Though he wasn’t spectacular in the two conference losses, he has come up big in Indiana’s biggest wins. He had 19 points last night against MSU, 26 at Ohio State, 15 against Michigan and 21 at home against the Spartans. He has also had 15 steals in those four games.

Trey Burke, Michigan – Burke is likely the best overall offensive player in the conference. He averages 18.6 points per game, which is second in the conference. Burke is also leading the conference in assists, as 6.9 per game, which is more than 2 assists per game better than any other player in the conference. Burke is also tied for eighth in the Big Ten in steals while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from 3-point land. Despite all the impressive numbers, Burke lacks the big victories that Oladipo has. Burke hasn’t been disappointing in Michigan’s losses, but he also hasn’t been able to get Michigan a big win on the road. It’s not necessarily his fault, but it will likely cost him the Big Ten Player of the Year Award.

Cody Zeller, Indiana – Zeller is going largely unnoticed due to the buzz surrounding Oladipo. However, Zeller leads the Hoosiers in points (16.6 ppg), rebounds (8.1 rpg) and blocks (1.3 bpg). Zeller is also shooting 58.8 percent from the field. It would be interesting to find out just how much Zeller impacts what Oladipo can do, but the fact is he lacks the flash that Oladipo has. Zeller can make some big plays, but the perception is that he is a bland player that you sometimes forget is on the floor. There is a belief that he is soft, and he just doesn’t appear to be as impactful on a game as his teammate.

Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State – Thomas isn’t going to win this award, but he is worth noting as a candidate. He is leading the conference in scoring at 20.1 points per game and he also pulls down 6.2 rebounds per game. He essentially all the Buckeyes can rely on when things get tough. Aaron Craft is a great defender, but can’t score consistently. Thomas hasn’t disappeared in games this year either. He has scored in double figures in every game. If his point totals get low, it is more likely because he isn’t getting the ball as opposed to he is afraid of the challenge.

I didn’t list anyone from Michigan State or Wisconsin on here because neither has a clear-cut candidate. I would have said Keith Appling prior to him disappearing against Indiana for the second time this season. I’d also argue that Gary Harris has surpassed him as MSU’s top player.

When it comes to the Badgers, they just do it all as a team. You really can’t look at their stats and roster and say that they have one individual that truly dominates the others.

When all is said and done, I still feel Oladipo is the best player in the conference, and maybe the nation. He does all the little things that you don’t often see from top players. He also is still improving as a player, which is why Indiana is getting stronger as the season moves on. He may have a better cast of teammates around him, but that is always likely the case when it comes to Player of the Year awards.

So, who do you think is the top player in the B1G this season?

Who should be the B1G Player of the Year

Penn State at Michigan Breakdown & Prediction

Penn State at No. 4 Michigan

Time: Noon

Venue: Crisler Center

TV: Big Ten Network

Records: Penn State 8-16, 0-12 Big Ten, Michigan 21-4, 8-4

Penn State stat leaders: Points – Tim Frazier (16.3 ppg); Rebounds – Ross Travis (7.0 rpg); Assists – D.J. Newbill (4.0 apg); Steals – Frazier (2.3 spg).

Michigan stat leaders: Points – Trey Burke (18.2 ppg); Rebounds – Mitch McGary (6.0 rpg); Assists – Burke (7.0 apg); Steals – Burke (1.4 spg).

Current Streaks: Penn State L12, Michigan L2

Point Spread: Michigan -22.5

Prediction: Michigan will probably look really strong in this one, but beating Penn State shouldn’t mean much. With the rough stretch for Michigan over, and the Wolverines back home, this game should be over early. Michigan knows it essentially has to win out to earn the Big Ten title. Penn State has had 10 of its 12 Big Ten losses come by at least nine points. The Nittany Lions don’t offer much on the court, especially on the road. Michigan wins and wins big. Michigan 71, Penn State 53.