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Pregame Shootaround 2.5.13: Michigan’s revenge, and Craft v. Burke Pt. II

Michigan Ohio St Basketball

Ohio State’s Aaron Craft (4) stays close to Michigan’s Trey Burke during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 56-53. (AP Photo/Mike Munden)

AP

Game of the Day: No. 10 Ohio State at No. 3 Michigan (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Trey Burke vs. Aaron Craft. Those two might try to downplay the significance of their matchup, but that is what’s going to determine the outcome of this game.

What Ohio State wants to do against Burke is something that John Beilein refers to as “locking the rails”. They allow Craft to more-or-les guard Burke 1-on-1. They won’t help off of shooters on the perimeter, counting on the nation’s best on-ball defender to be able to make life miserable for the nation’s best point guard. It worked in the first game, as Burke struggled to 15 points and four assists in what was a 56-53 win for Ohio State.

But this matchup will be on the Wolverines home court with sole possession of second place in the Big Ten on the line. This is key for Michigan, because they’ll be visiting Wisconsin and Michigan State in their next two games.

Who’s Getting Upset?: No. 2 Florida at Arkansas (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Florida may be the best team in the country this season. They are certainly the most dominating team in the country right now, as they’ve rolled over every SEC opponent that they have faced in dominating fashion. But Arkansas’ Bud Walton Arena is a tough place to get a win, and Mike Anderson has become notorious for being a coach that wins a lot at home and loses a lot on the road. How will the Gators handle the Razorback press?

Mid-Major Matchup of the Day: Evansville at Bradley (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN3)

Evansville has arguably the most dangerous scorer in the MVC this side of Doug McDermott on their roster in Colt Ryan, but the road is not a kind place to be in the Valley. He’ll be going up against Bradley’s leading scorer, guard Walt Lemon Jr.

Five Things to Watch For

1) Kentucky looks like they are starting to turn a corner. They went into Oxford and beat Ole Miss last Tuesday and followed that up with an overtime win over Texas A&M on Saturday. Can they keep heading in the right direction with a win over South Carolina tonight? (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPNU)

2) Wake Forest has been a pesky team to beat this season, as they already own an upset of NC State and nearly knocked off Duke. UNC is their next test. (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPNU)

3) No. 13 Kansas State will head out on the road and take on Texas Tech, who has one non-TCU win in the Big 12 this season, which came against Iowa State. (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN3)

4) Florida State has lost four of their last six games and fallen off of the bubble for now. Georgia Tech is coming off of a win over Virginia on Sunday. Can the Noles bounce back? (9:00 p.m. ESPN3)

5) Villanova is 2-5 in their last seven games. They’ve beaten Louisville and Syracuse and lost to everyone else. Which means that they probably will lose to DePaul tonight, right? (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

The Top 25


  • No. 2 Florida at Arkansas (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
  • No. 10 Ohio State at No. 3 Michigan (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
  • Boston College at No. 8 Miami (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN3)
  • No. 13 Kansas State at Texas Tech (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN3)

You can find Rob on twitter @RobDauster.