GBMWolverine: Michigan Basketball -- Purdue at Michigan -- Senior Night -- Preview

Posted at 12:00pm — 2/25/2012

GBMWolverine: Michigan Basketball — Purdue at Michigan — Senior Night — Preview

Big Ten Tip-Off Show
5:30pm – 6:00pm
DirecTV Channel 610
BTN

Michigan Basketball
Purdue at Michigan
Crisler Center (Crisler Arena) — Ann Arbor, Michigan
Saturday — 2/25/2012
6:00pm – 8:00pm
DirecTV Channel 610
BTN

Down the Backstretch for the Big Ten Title. To bad Minnesota fell apart against Michigan State the other night.

Tuesday’s game against Northwestern was tough, but the outcome was sweet. Northwestern played a pretty good game, but again just missed getting over the hump in a big game. Michigan had a bad stretch that took several minutes from which to recover. Missed foul shots and wild three-point attempts served as the shovel. Fortunately the team again found a way to regroup and finish strong.

Saturday is Michigan’s Senior Day Event, as the Maize and Blue faithful bid farewell to two guys who have impacted Michigan basketball, Zack Novak and Stu Douglass. Both of these guys share some common characteristics. Neither was really recruited by major college teams, one was a two-star recruit and the other a three star recruit. Neither had great athletic ability. Both were from guard shooting heaven Indiana. Both have had moments that will be remembered for a lifetime.

The game and the importance it holds must still be the Wolverine’s key focus. Purdue is fighting for its NCAA life but can easily make the tournament with the elevator act Illinois and Minnesota have pulled the last three weeks. Michigan is hanging tough with a chance for a championship share.

The Boilers are playing better. Robbie Hummel is making progress and is now the focal point of the Purdue offense. It has been mentioned here that it is indeed a shame how his career has been affected by adverse injuries. He looks bigger ad stronger than ever, if not as fast and mobile. Hummel is getting guys off of their feet the last few games and is hitting the runners.

The rest of the Purdue team remains very balanced in scoring and overall contributions, led by Lewis Jackson and Ryne Smith. Seven players are averaging over five points per game. Purdue, as mentioned previously, misses last year’s seniors and is not a great shooting team. The athletic talent may be down a hair. But Purdue will play 40 minutes of tough basketball and in most games the other team must beat the Boilers as they rarely beat themselves. This team still has some strong athletes and will dive for the ball. Coach Painter will travel to Ann Arbor with a well-prepared team. Purdue has won two of the last three in Ann Arbor.

Michigan is 15-0 at home, John Beilein has the program on the verge of finishing unbeaten at home for the first time in 35 years. Michigan will need to get off to a good start and play tough enough defense to keep Purdue’s shooting in check. This will be another game that will test Michigan mentally and physically.

Best of luck is wished for Novak, Douglass, Person and Cronin.

The scenario is simple as to contending for the league title; win and you have a chance.

Big Ten … Conference … Overall Record

1. Michigan State … 12-3 … 23-5
2. Ohio State … 11-4 … 23-5
2. Michigan … 11-4 … 21-7

Michigan Schedule:
2/25/2012 … Purdue
3/1/2012 … at Illinois
3/4/2012 … at Penn State

Michigan State Schedule:
2/25/2012 … Nebraska
2/28/2012 … at Indiana
3/4/2012 … Ohio State

Ohio State Schedule:
2/26/2012 … Wisconsin
2/29/2012 … at Northwestern
3/4/2012 … at Michigan State

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!

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