The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN BASKETBALL The sophomore noted he benefited greatly from Michigan's European trip a year ago, and that Burke didn't enjoy that advantage. Regardless, the Wolverines have appreciated how seamlessly the freshman has moved into the lineup, and how the year behind his name often doesn't seem appropriate. "He's just going to keep learning," senior swingman Zack Novak noted. "He really hasn't played like a fresh- man, for the most part. I've been im- pressed with him. There is no reason he won't keep getting better. As of right now, he's definitely playing re- ally well at the point guard position." Burke's efforts have made the tran- sition from Morris' point guard lead- ership to a new dynamic less difficult than originally expected, Novak said. "It's gone pretty smooth," the se- nior assessed. "Trey is doing a great job. He's still learning a lot, but ev- ery day, he's getting better. I'm really impressed by his attitude in practice 2011-12 Michigan Basketball Schedule Date Opponent Nov. 11 Ferris State Nov. 14 Towson Nov. 17 Western Illinois Nov. 21 vs. Memphis^ Nov. 22 vs. Duke^ Nov. 23 vs. UCLA^ Nov. 29 at Virginia Dec. 3 Iowa State Dec. 10 vs. Oakland# Dec. 13 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Dec. 17 Alabama A&M Dec. 22 Bradley Dec. 29 Penn State Jan. 1 Minnesota Jan. 5 at Indiana Jan. 8 Wisconsin Jan. 11 Northwestern Jan. 14 at Iowa Jan. 17 Michigan State Jan. 21 at Arkansas Jan. 24 at Purdue Jan. 29 at Ohio State Feb. 1 Indiana Feb. 5 at Michigan State Feb. 8 at Nebraska Feb. 12 Illinois Feb. 18 Ohio State Feb. 21 at Northwestern Feb. 25 Purdue Feb. 26 Purdue Mar. 1 at Illinois Mar. 4 at Penn State Result/Time/TV W, 59-33 W, 64-47 W, 59-55 W, 73-61 L, 82-75 W, 79-63 L, 70-58 W, 76-66 W, 90-80 W, 63-50 W, 87-57 6:30 p.m./BTN 7:30 p.m./BTN 4 p.m./BTN 9 p.m./ESPN2 TBD/CBS 6:30 p.m./BTN 1 p.m./BTN 7 p.m./ESPN 2 p.m./CBS 7 p.m./ESPN 1 p.m./CBS 6:30 p.m./BTN 1 p.m./CBS 8:30 p.m./BTN 1 p.m./CBS 9 p.m./ESPN 8 p.m./BTN 6 p.m./BTN, OR TBD/CBS/ESPN 7 p.m./ESPN (or 2) TBD/TBD Mar. 8-11 Big Ten Tournament* ^ EA Sports Maui Invitational at Lahaina, Hawaii (field includes Chaminade, Duke, Georgetown, Kansas, Mem- phis, Michigan, Tennessee and UCLA); # at Auburn Hills, Mich.; * at Indianapolis After averaging 13.9 points per game last season, Hardaway has boosted his scoring to 15.4 points a contest through Dec. 182. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN JANUARY 2012 THE WOLVERINE 35 and in games. He doesn't have the demeanor of a freshman, which is big for a point guard." Novak noted he still points out "little stuff," to the freshman, mostly in the area of game pace and picking spots to use his considerable talent most wisely. "The biggest thing I'm trying to help him with is just having a feel for the game, knowing when to push it and make that play that might not be 100 percent there, but he makes it seven times out of 10," Novak said. "Or, when we need the one he's go- ing to make 10 times out of 10, in his sleep. It's knowing how the pace of the game is going, and when we need which play." Burke himself cited the end of Michigan's 76-66 win over Iowa State at Crisler Arena on Dec. 3 as a prime example of learning that sort of tempo. The Wolverines built a 55- 33 lead in that one, but Iowa State clawed back to within eight with 52 seconds remaining in the game. That prompted a teaching moment from Michigan head coach John Beilein — not all directed at Burke, but the freshman still understood the message. "We kind of got sloppy in the last few minutes," Burke said. "I really didn't control the pace like I should have. Me being the point guard, I should have just brought it out and run the offense. It's a learning pro- cess. Coaches said we've got to fin- ish the last four minutes like we've played the whole game. It was the only four-minute interval we lost the whole game." THE HARDER WAY PAST FOES There isn't any easy way. That's the TIM HARDAWAY JR. TAKING message for sophomore Tim Hard- away Jr., who has become the No. 1 target of every opponent's scouting report this season. That was obvious in Michigan's