The first time they played this season, the Kansas Jayhawks took care of the Ohio State Buckeyes fairly easily in a 78-67 win back in early December. Thomas Robinson had 21 points on his way toward a possible Player of the Year caliber season, but the Buckeyes were without Jared Sullinger. It’s that factor among other things that has SB Nation’s Bill Callahan picking Ohio State this time around.
Callahan writes, “I don’t know if it was because they knew they were playing without their star, but Ohio State simply did not bring the intensity on the defensive end in that game that they did the rest of the year. It wasn’t just Tyshawn Taylor getting into the lane and creating, it was Travis Releford slashing through the defense and finishing easily at the rim, Elijah Johnson getting clear look after clear look from the outside, and various Jayhawks getting easy put-back points. I’m not sure how much of that you can credit Sullinger’s absence for, but obviously it can’t happen again.”
His final prediction is Ohio State to beat Kansas 80-76.
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.