No. 3 Michigan vs No. 4 Ohio State: 5 key storylines for huge Big Ten clash

Duane Washington Jr. takes on a bevy of Wolverine guards

If Liddell isn’t getting his complete due, neither is junior guard Duane Washington Jr. After multiple transfer departures, the junior guard is having a breakout campaign of his own, averaging 14.9 ppg and 2.9 apg, while making 38% from three-point range on 7.3 attempts. Outside of a three-game stretch where he shot 5/30 from the field, Washington has been a near automatic double-digit producer.

The Buckeyes have two other key guards in Justin Ahrens and CJ Walker. Ahrens is the top three-point shooter on the team at 47% at nearly five attempts a night, while Walker averages 4.3 apg. He’s been coming off the bench since coming back from an injury but is back into form, scoring in double figures in four of the last five.

Michigan has a starting senior backcourt of Eli Brooks and Mike Smith, who combined to average 16.9 ppg and 8.7 apg. What they lack in size, they each make up for in both efficiency and quality man-to-man defense. The experience and consistency has been a boost for the team to stay steady and even if size is an issue, 6’5 Wake Forest transfer Chaundee Brown comes off the bench as an elite defensive stopper and another capable scorer.

Solely focusing on the backcourt, this comes down to whether or not Washington can produce at a high-level. This may be a game where Brown gets more minutes just to focus on him. If the Wolverines can win that matchup, they’ll be in a great spot to win the game.