Trey Burke Performs Under Pressure

Michigan freshman PG Trey Burke returned home to Columbus, Ohio Sunday afternoon as part of the wolverines 64-49 loss to Ohio State. After the game GBW caught up with Benji Burke, Trey’s father, and the man who helped mold Trey into the player he is today, and Satch Sullinger, his high school coach.

From Evan Turner’s heartbreaking 40 foot buzzer beater in Indianapolis at the 2010 Big Ten Tournament to the numerous tightly contested battles the past two seasons, it was obvious that the nationally televised game between #20 Michigan and #4 Ohio State had plenty of story lines.

Even though the buckeyes pulled away in the second half to win 64-49, the biggest theme throughout the game was the return of the 2011 Mr. basketball in Ohio, Trey Burke. The 19 year old has emerged as a budding star for the wolverines, handling pressure situations just like he handled his homecoming Sunday afternoon.

“For the pressure that was on him, this game, I thought he performed well,” said Burke’s father Benji. “I thought he lead his team, directed his team pretty good.”

The atmosphere at Value City Arena can make it difficult for visiting teams, especially the buckeyes most hated rival, but Burke is as prepared as a freshman can be.

“The thing about this is I think Trey is built for this,” the elder Burke said. “Mentally he’s tough and I think that goes to being with (his AAU team) All Ohio Red... some of the places we played in, the atmosphere was real tough. I know how he feels. He doesn’t want to lose to Jared (Sullinger), period.”

Former teammates at Northland high school in Columbus, Burke and Ohio State C Jared Sullinger are extremely familiar with one another after being coached by Jared’s father, Satch

“Practice they used to go against each other and it was the same thing,” Mr. Sullinger stated. “They’re competitors, man! I guess you would call them ballers. They put the friendship (away) when the ball goes up in the air. But when the balls all over and it’s all zero, zero on the clock, they’re brothers forever.”

The elder Sullinger has strong feelings of his own for Burke. While following his son extremely close at Ohio State, he still finds the time to keep an eye on his former floor general’s impressive start in Ann Arbor.

Burke was able to pour in 13 efficient points in the 64-49 loss to the Buckeyes, but with a home match-up with Indiana Wednesday night there's little time to lament what more he could have done. He and his fellow wolverines have to move on quickly.

“The thing is like I just told him, short term memory... we got Indiana coming Wednesday,” said Benji Burke. “We got to get back, refocus and make sure we take care of home court.”

#22 Michigan plays host to #20 Indiana tomorrow night at Crisler Center. Tip-off at 6:30pm. Be sure to stay on GoBlueWolverine.com for full coverage of that match-up as well as all of the national signing day coverage you want!