GBMWolverine: Michigan Basketball — Big Ten — Should be Big — The Final Four — Preview

Posted at 6:00am — 1/17/2012

GBMWolverine: Michigan Basketball — Big Ten — Should be Big — The Final Four — Preview — Part II

Final Installment: The Upper Crust of Big Ten Basketball

Michigan State as a second choice may surprise many readers. This team is massive physically and some of last year’s “errors in judgment and execution” seem to have relented. As always Coach Tom Izzo has played a preseason schedule with sufficient rigor to prepare the Spartans for a Big Ten and National Championship run. Last year the wheels fell off with ball handling and possession problems, as well as timely games where the Spartans came up a little short. Those days appear to be over, but two months will give the empirical verdict.

First off will be a discussion of MSU’s size. Senior Draymond Green, from Saginaw, is a physical specimen at 6’7’ and 230 pounds. He hits the boards hard and is one of the premiere rebounders in the conference averaging around ten boards a game. His inside scoring is significant at over 15 points a game. Derrick Nix, a 6’ 9” junior center from Detroit, is hitting the boards well and shooting with enough skill to be a threat. The same can be said for 6’ 10” sophomore Adreian Payne.

The guards may not have a dominant force that can carry a team but the entire entourage is impressive. The three primary contributors are sophomore Keith Appling, another Detroit native, Brandon Wood, and freshman Branden Dawson. Appling is the team’s glue but Dawson is the future. The 6’6’ swingman is an incredible physically gifted player. It is early but Dawson has impact player written all over him. He rebounds well in his so far limited playing time of about 21 minutes a game. Look for him to be a force come tournament time.

This team is tough and physically rough. When rolling, the Spartan team is relentless and effective. The Achilles heel is shooting and turnovers. The shooting is average and the turnovers are still a little high. But rebounding is a big strength that counters the previous semi-flaws. The 2011-2012 version of Michigan State is what the norm has been over the last decade, maybe just not quite good enough to make a deep run. But this team will easily make the tournament and get a shot at Spartan glory.

Finally comes the team that should win the conference hands-down, Ohio State. The view here is that Ohio State has the best talent in the nation, albeit most of the talent is very young. But do not feel sorry for this team that has a legitimate candidate for national player of the year, defender of the year, and physical talent beyond what most coaches can imagine, but maybe dream about on a good night.

Thad Motta is a protocol Ohio State coach of the new millennium era. The mode of operation is go get the best talent in the nation by selling energy, the bigness effect of Ohio State, the recent professional picks, and a cast of surrounding talent that should give any Ohio State team a shot at the national championship year after year. The last two years, and next year’s recruiting, insure Ohio State of talent for at least the next five years.

The talent starts with local prodigy J. J. Sullinger. Sullinger is a combo of Wes Unseld and Bob Lanier. He has slimmed down a few pounds but is still a hulk. Sullinger has several skills that enhance his size. He can shoot outside, is very smart offensively, and has superior footwork. Some people rebound because of size, and some by practice, technique, and hard work. Sullinger combines all of the above to be a superior rebounder at both ends of the floor. Sullinger’s numbers tell only part of his success, but the obvious stats include almost 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Sullinger’s shadow partially eclipses some great surrounding talent. Perhaps most notable is NBA body Deshaun Thomas. Thomas, a very early commit to Ohio State, is now a sophomore and stands around 6’ 7” and is in the 230+ pound class. He is very athlete and extremely strong and plays a little like King James, minus the ball handling. He can shoot on the perimeter and pound inside. When this guy gets hot it takes a load of water to cool him down.

Another member of the sophomore class that may be the best in the nation is Aaron Craft, a 6’2” guard that plays the role of this millennium’s John Havlicek. Like Havlicek, Craft is a great defender and an average shooter. But like the great one, he does the dirty work and is willing to play second violin.

William Buford, a big guard, is a big time shooter, on some nights. Buford has always thought to be NBA level talent, but he has his nights off. Still, on any night Bufurd can put up numbers that can be the difference maker. His tournament cold night last year still festers with the local faithful.

There is an abundance of talent getting cameo time so far this season. But the talent level practically demands that Ohio State play guys enough minutes to satisfy the second liners.

Ohio State again is planning on a number one seed, time will tell. The team is very talented physically and it will take talent to put them out of the tournament, as in Kentucky last season. Ohio State is very tough to beat in the mausoleum/ morgue known as the Schott. This megalithic structure defines the Ohio State approach, namely largeness and scope, but frankly it is a disappointment to even the most loyal of followers. More so to visitors the Beverly Hills like barn is tough to shoot in, especially with athletes of Ohio State’s talent constantly putting pressure on the shooter.

GBMWolverine hopes you have enjoyed the multi-part preview. The season comes down to only a few questions: (1) can anyone knock off Ohio State or even tie the Buckeyes for the conference title; (2) how many teams will make the tournament, and (3) who will emerge from the tough mid-pack cement mixer and have a nice run in the NCAA tournament?

For Ohio State the difference will be talent and energy, for everyone else the telling variable will be mental toughness and the ability to persevere, there will be good nights and bad nights for all. Some will have more good nights and some more bad nights. Coaching and toughness will tell the tale, along with some good health and a little luck along the road to tournament-ville.

Please comment on our GBMWolverine Message Board about this article and read what others comment.

You can contact us at our e-mail address: GBMWolverine

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

Go Blue — Wear Maize!

Home/Big Ten News