http://www.cleveland.com/osu/team/1360025180-808-996/nations-two-best-backcourts-michigan.html


by Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer

Talking to Dick Vitale today, I liked the point the ESPN analyst made about the guard matchup for Ohio State-Michigan on Tuesday. He said Michigan, with Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. combining to average nearly 34 points per game, might be the best offensive backcourt in the nation.

But he thought Ohio State, with Aaron Craft, Lenzelle Smith and backup Shannon Scott, might be the best defensive backcourt in the country. Thad Matta also recently said that if Craft is the best defender in the country, Smith is right there with him.

Craft clearly has bothered Burke, and the Wolverines told reporters in Michigan on Monday they'd be trying some things to get Burke away from Craft. The stats are skewed by the terrible game Burke had in the Big Ten Tournament against the Buckeyes last year, when he was 1 for 11 and scored just five points, but the facts are that Ohio State has handled the possible national player of the year pretty well.

Burke has played 56 career games, four of them against the Buckeyes. Against them he averages 12.5 points and shoots 32.6 percent from the field and 26.3 percent on 3-pointers. Against everyone else, he averages 16.4 points and shoots 46.5 percent from the field and and 36.2 percent on 3-pointers.

Against Ohio State, Burke averages 4.5 assists and 5 turnovers. Against everyone else, he averages 5.7 assists and 2.6 turnovers.
If Burke has a big night Tuesday, the Buckeyes can't win, not on the road. But they've found ways to keep him from having big nights.

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@FreddieGibbs: Jaworski stay hatin' on mobile quarterbacks. It's the future of the game, u old fuck. Go put on a leather helmet.