The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Kansas Jayhawks are set to do battle later on this Saturday evening, and while many people have discussed what the big men will do, the real showdown that could decide the game could be between Tyshawn Taylor and Aaron Craft.
For Taylor, the man has played college basketball in Lawrence that many peaks and valleys would find envious. Now at the precipice of a national championship, he must go through a point guard he's seen earlier this season.
Tyshawn Taylor's thoughts on the defensive capabilities of Ohio State point guard Aaron Craft in a rematch:
"As many questions I'm answering about how good he is on defense -- he must be. That's all I'm talking about" said Kansas' bubbly and ever-candid senior point guard. Earlier, told of an Ohio State player's observation that Craft was the superior defender, Taylor replied: "He's great. I'm just way too confident in my abilities to give him that much credit. I guess I'll have to see for myself."
On playing against Ohio State in December with a torn meniscus, and how things have changed:
"From December 10th to now, I think I'm a completely different player," Taylor said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge even more so than I was before -- and I still feel like I played a pretty solid game."
Bill Self on the growth of Tyshawn Taylor, from his fight with the KU football team to now being a senior leader:
"I really like this kid," Self said of Taylor last week. "I think he's been about as big a treat to coach as anybody I've ever had. And I've always been fond of guys that have to go through some stuff to get where they eventually end up and he's had to go through some stuff. He's been a treat to be around. He's emerged as one of the better leaders we have had since I've been here."
Kansas and Ohio State are scheduled to tip at 7:49pm Central Time, and the most exciting matchup could end up being Taylor vs. Craft.
For more on the Final Four match-up between the Jayhawks and Buckeyes, check out SB Nation Kansas City, SB Nation's college basketball page and this StoryStream. For team news and info, head over to Rock Chalk Talk and Along The Olentangy.