Grading Mike Burwell

What grade does Mike Burwell get? (Picture:www.scout.com)

The grading series is back on track and this time we will take a look at guard Mike Burwell.  Sophomore Mike Burwell (6'6" 210-pounds) played sparingly all season for the Bulls.  He played quite a few minutes in the first few games of the season and even started in 1 game (Crater injured).  But as the season wore on, he saw his playing time reduced and he found himself keeping the bench warm.  Here is a closer look at Burwell's season.  [keep reading]

Burwell played sparingly all season long.  The sophomore guard only started 1 game all year due to an injury to Anthony Crater and saw his playing time reduced as the season went on.  Burwell only averaged 1.7 point per game and .8 rebound per game, which is more than Dority and Haynes, but still, he rarely played and when he did, he didn't produce.

On offense, Burwell is more of a shooting guard than a point guard.  In his one start and the few minutes he did play at point guard, he struggled to run the offense.  He is not very fast and has a very high dribble, make it easy for a defender to pressure him.  He is more of a spot up shooter and does have decent 3-point range, but he was never in position to shoot.  He doesn't have the greatest ability to drive to the hoop as well and makes a living on the perimeter.

On defense, Burwell played well at times.  At 6'6" and over 200-pounds, he is big enough to handle any guard that tries to matchup with him. He does have the best lateral speed to keep a faster guard, like an Ashton Gibbs of Pitt, in front of him and above average guards can easily get around him. 

Heath is still recruiting point guards during the offseason and there is some talk that Burwell might be one of the players that could leave the program, which would open up a scholarship spot for another player that Heath wants to bring in.  This purely my speculation, but there are talks (from what I have read) that someone will be leaving the program.

Final grade: C-