#2 ranked Ohio State hasn’t played inside Allen Fieldhouse since losing to the Jayhawks 80-67 in December of 1999, but this version of the Buckeyes will present a much tougher test for the #13 ranked Jayhawks on Saturday afternoon with or without super sophomore Jared Sullinger.
The Buckeyes come into the game undefeated on the season with a record of 8-0, with 7 of their 8 wins by 15 or more points. The Buckeyes average 82.5 points per game and are shooting over 50% from the field for the season at 50.9%. 6’8″ 280 lbs sophomore PF Jared Sullinger is one reason why the Buckeye offense is so impressive. Sullinger is averaging 19.1 points and 10.3 rebounds in the 7 games Sullinger has played. Sullinger hits 62.2% of his shots from the field and has hit 40 of his 48 free throw attempts this season.
6’6″ 220 lbs senior guard William Buford is second in scoring for the Buckeyes with 16.0 points per game and was the Buckeyes top returning scorer from last years squad. Buford has a terrific mid-range game with the ability to get hot from three. Buford leads the Buckeyes with 12 made 3′s this season (46%) and his 27 assists this season rank second for the Buckeyes.
6’7″ 225 lbs sophomore Deshaun Thomas can score inside and out for the Buckeyes. Thomas averages 12.7 points per game, and his 7 made 3′s for the season ranks second for the Buckeyes.
Another of the four sophomore starters for the Buckeyes is 6’2″ 190 lbs PG Aaron Craft. Craft leads the Buckeyes with 44 assists and 23 steals on the season, and Craft has only turned the ball over 16 times in 8 games.
Defensively the Buckeyes are holding opponents to 53.2 points per game and 38.2% from the field, including 31.6% from three. The Buckeyes force over 19 turnovers per game and 27 of their nearly 40 rebounds per game are defensive rebounds, and hold opponents to only 29 rebounds per game.
To upset the 2nd ranked team in the country the Jayhawks will need to control the glass on both ends of the court. Although the rebounding numbers are similar between the two teams, the Buckeyes average a slightly higher number per game with their 12.5 offensive rebounds per game to KU’s 11.6 offensive rebounds per game being the biggest different between the two.
Kansas will also need to take much better care of the ball against the Buckeyes. The Jayhawks average 14.6 assists per game to go along with their 14.9 turnovers per game. The Buckeyes average 19.2 assists per game to only 10.9 turnovers per game.
The Jayhawks have a 5-3 record against the Buckeyes all time with the Jayhawks winning the last meeting 69-68 in Columbus, OH back in 2000-2001.
Tip off is 2:15 central time on ESPN with Bob Knight and Jay Bilas.
