Michigan hoops @ Bradley Saturday 4PM Peoria, Ill ESPNU
One player on Michigan’s team may have had this Saturday’s matchup with the Bradley Braves circled on their calendar for a little while. That player is Trey Burke. Last year against Bradley, Burke had one of the worst games of his career.
He watched Walt Lemon go off for 16 points. Lemon shot 5-11 that night, and a scorching 3-5 from downtown. Burke himself shot an uncharacteristic 5/13 and 1-7 from downtown, salvaging his stat line with 8 assists. Bradley held Michigan to 35% shooting in the first half, and actually tied the score at 45 in the second. (Returning players) Jordan Prosser, Dyricus Simms-Edwards, and Shayock Shayock each pitched in 10 points and 7-8 rebounds. Michigan, led by Evan Smotrycz’s 20 points and 10 rebounds would eventually pull away and coast to a 77-66 victory.
A lot has changed since then. I have to assume that this trip to Peoria Illinois(about 3 hours from Chicago) wouldn’t have been scheduled if Patrick Beilein (Coach’s son) was not at that time Bradley’s Director of Basketball Operations.
Well, back in May Patrick Beilein was hired to coach the West Virginia Weslyan Bobcats(not hard to see an early season matchup there…we played Concordia, right?) and this trip became a little…well…it’s a road game against the Missouri Valley Conference. Evan Smotrycz is gone. 6-8 Sophomore Shayok Shayok is now a little used bench player. Michigan has welcomed the best recruiting class since Chris and Juwan. Both teams are a lot better.
Carver Arena is actually pretty nice, all things considered.
This game will probably welcome around 11,000 people…as you might have guessed this is the biggest game there. Pretty much ever. As for the team…Stealing coach Geno Ford from Kent State is finally starting to pay off for the Braves. And the team that went 7 and 25 last year comes into Saturday’s game with only one loss, that to a relatively decent South Florida team.
Tyshon Pickett and Will Egolf have made all the difference.
6-9 Sixth year senior PF Will Egolf missed last year with a torn ACL. This year he is putting up 11 points and 5 rebounds, and of the 5 Bradley players who each take 2-3 three pointers per game, Egolf is hitting the most by far(50%). 6-6 Junior Forward Tyshawn Pickett transferred from the junior college ranks and has bolstered the Brave’s attack with 12 points and 7 rebounds per game.
Our old buddy 6-3 Junior PG Walt Lemon
is back averaging 13 points and 4 assists…He’s still taking 2-3 from downtown, but he’s hitting on only 23%. 6-3 Senior Shooting Guard Dyricus Simms Edwards has the all-around game with 9 points, 5 boards, and 4 assists. He is taking 2-3 from downtown, and hitting a blistering 14%. 6-5 Senior Guard Jake “Beastman” Eastman
was known for diving for balls and taking charges, but these days he is contributing with 11 points and 4 boards, shooting 33% from downtown. 6-2 Guard Jalen Crawford(of Detroit) is the other “perimeter threat”, but he is also only shooting 20% from the deep.
Unless Egolf catches fire from downtown, I dare say a zone defense might be pretty effective here. Bradley’s lone semi-heralded recruit (3* Center with Iowa and ND offers) 6-9 Junior Jordan Prosser
chips in with 7 points and 6 rebounds. Everyone else was unranked or 2*, for what its worth. This is the type of team that might have given last year’s team a hard time. Hell, they’d probably beat State.
(LOL)
But even on the road…I don’t see them hanging with Michigan’s talent and athleticism. The motivation to play nice just went out the window...And I can think of one person who just might have a bone to pick with these Braves...
Michigan wins 85-67.
Go Blue!
November 28th, 2012 at 11:57 PM ^
You'll want to update your title. Hope your score prediction is on the money.
November 29th, 2012 at 12:03 AM ^
Thank you
November 29th, 2012 at 12:08 AM ^
Eastern Illinois, Texas Pan-American, IUPUI and Tennessee Martin. Even South Flordia isn't very good even by BCS conference school standard.
I expect Michigan to beat them by 30
November 29th, 2012 at 12:08 AM ^
before the ....bump?
November 29th, 2012 at 12:23 AM ^
I am interested in seeing how the freshman play in a hostile environment for the first time. So far they have played in front of all Pro-Michigan crowds. This should be a good mental test because I imagine that Bradley will play above their heads due to the emotional lift of a sell out and a raucous crowd due to this being their biggest home game ever. As long as Michigan shows up ready to play they should win comfortably.
November 29th, 2012 at 12:38 AM ^
I actually watched them play at Central Michigan. Wooped up on my chips pretty good tonight.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:08 AM ^
I would be very nervous about playing a quality mid major on the road, but this year's team has way too many weapons.
November 29th, 2012 at 10:30 AM ^
November 29th, 2012 at 10:39 AM ^
Thanks for the preview. I agree with your margin of victory. Bradley is a nice team, but they really haven't had much excitement there since Hersey Hawkins graduated.
November 29th, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^
Excellent write up as always. Thank you.
Jalen Crawford is the brother of Joe and Jordan Crawford. Joe Crawford originally committed to play for Michigan but ended up going to play for Kentucky, and Jordan Crawford played for Indiana and then Xavier, and is now a double digit scorer for the Washington Wizards.
Jordan Crawford's notorious claim to fame is his infamous dunk over LeBron James at a James/Nike camp and the tape of said event was confiscated to protect LeBron's name. The Nerve!!!
Jalen Crawford:
Basketball Brothers
The youngest of three siblings, both of Crawford's older brothers played Division I basketball and are currently playing professionally ... Joseph Crawford II was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008 following his four-year college career at Kentucky (2004-08) and he is currently playing professionally in Israel ... Jordan Crawford, who first gained national attention for his summer camp dunk on Lebron James, was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks out of Xavier in 2010 and currently plays for the Washington Wizards.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Crawford
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Crawford_%28basketball,_born_1986%29
http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=205141537
November 30th, 2012 at 12:54 AM ^
I said this last year, but this is the one time I'll be rooting against the Braves. Also it's great to get a true road game against a team that doesn't have great talent to potentially help us down the road.
November 30th, 2012 at 4:03 PM ^
I am sure the Patrick Beilien connection is the more important one, but it's worth pointing out that Bradley's AD has UM ties as well. Got his PhD at Michigan and worked in the Athletic department.
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