Michigan Wolverines @ Ohio State Buckeyes Preview and Gamethread

What: Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

When: Sunday, January 29th; 1:00 p.m.

Where: Value Center Arena; Columbus, Ohio

Television: CBS

Wolverines Record: 16-5

Opposing Coverage: Maize N Brew

The Game's 2012 basketball series kicks off with more regular season intrigue than any within the past few seasons. Both Ohio State and Michigan are ranked in the Coaches and AP Polls, and each squad carries a reasonably strong resume. Michigan possesses the 20th best RPI in the country and has faced the 35th toughest schedule, playing five ranked teams along the way, but defeating only two.

Ohio State is unquestionably the superior team, holding both a better record and better efficiency statistics, yet the Wolverines are good enough to be considered legitimate competition for the conference crown. Like the Buckeyes, Michigan lost to Indiana once, 73-71, and slipped against an inferior opponent--Iowa, in Michigan's case--but have battled through the first half of Big Ten play with pluck. Along with Ohio State and Michigan State, Michigan sits tied atop the Big Ten conference standings.

Freshman guard Trey Burke's has energized the Michigan frontcourt and nearly matched junior guard Tim Hardaway Jr. in production. Burke and Hardaway have combined to form one of the best frontcourt duos in the Big Ten, and they average a combined 29 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds per game.

Sophomore forwards Evan Smotrycz and Jordan Morgan lead the Wolverines in rebounding, averaging five apiece per game, but in John Beilein's offensive system, which emphasizes shooting efficiency and volume, they are somewhat marginalized. As a further result of Beilein's unique system, Ohio State unsurprisingly holds an edge over the Wolverines in offensive rebounding percentage,

Vegas has the Buckeyes as 14-point favorites, a sum I think is a bit high. While the game is in Columbus--and, incidentally, will see Ohio State host super-recruit Stefon Diggs--I don't see a runaway Buckeye victory unless the Michigan shooters go cold. Michigan lacks an answer for Jared Sullinger, as most teams do, and that will lead to a Buckeye victory, but I think Burkes and Hardaway keep Michigan close until the final minutes.

• Marcus Hartman, writing at Scout.com, has an article examining the relationship between Sullinger and Trey Burke. The pair played together in high school and maintain a close relationship today. Sullinger thinks Burke will be ready. "I think Trey's going to try to step up his game. One, he's from Columbus, Ohio. Two, the game is going to be in Columbus, Ohio. I can see Trey (trying to make) a big impression on the crowd and show everybody that he's putting Columbus on the map. I wouldn't be surprised if Trey comes out and has a big game."
• Somewhat a forgotten man, senior Michigan guard Zach Novak is putting together a fine final outing. Novak averages a shade under 10 points per game, yet is shooting 7% better than both Burke and Hardaway from the field.
  
• With each blowout victory, Bob Baptist's postgame victory stories have become increasingly antagonistic. I like to think he's taunting the rest of the Big Ten.