The Kansas Jayhawks are playing in their first Final Four since 2008 and will be going up against the Ohio St. Buckeyes. To make it this far both teams have multiple star players on their team with Kansas having Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson while Ohio State having Jared Sullinger.
Those are not the only players for either team, each squad has many players that can strike up and have a big game. For Kansas those other key players are Elijah Johnson and defensive specialist Jeff Withey.
Ohio State bring more scoring to the game outside of Sullinger, they also have DeShaun Thomas who averages 16 per game and William Buford averages 14.
There are multiple players on either side that can step up and make a difference.
SB Nation's Kansas blog Rock Chalk Talk presents their keys to the game for Kansas and here is possibly the most important key:
Pack it in on defense:
Ohio State's two best scorers are no doubt Jared Sullinger and DeShaun Thomas. Each has the ability to shoot the three (and deep twos) but both would prefer to make their living inside. Not to mention that as a team Ohio State is very reluctant to shoot threes: they were 311th nationally in taking threes this year, and they were 223rd in three point percentage. They can no doubt get hot from outside, but daring them to beat Kansas from outside would lessen the defensive pressure on Withey and Robinson, and would allow the Jayhawks to double team both Thomas and Sullinger.
Game Date/Time: Saturday, March 30, 8:49 p.m. ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, L.A.
TV: CBS
Radio: Dial Global Sports
Streaming: NCAA March Madness Live
Line: Ohio State (-2½)
Go check out Rock Chalk Talk for all things regarding Kansas hoops and go visit Along the Olentangy for more Ohio State basketball. For more on the 2012 NCAA Basketball tournament, head over to SB Nation's March Madness hub for all things NCAA basketball.