The Buckeye freshman exploded onto the stage last night, dropping 26 & 12 as the fifth ranked Buckeyes (2nd in our Bracketeering) laid the lumber to the Gators in Gainesville.
Granted, the Gators are probably not meritorious of a top ten ranking, but they are a NCAA tourney team returning all five starters playing at home to a sellout crowd. However, it was Ohio State that looked like the poised, veteran ballclub.
The game was close at halftime. Five minutes into the second half, it was a different story.
The reason why? Ohio State is going to be terrific this year. As the media machine machine begins to pump up Sullenger, it might be easy to overlook the glue to this year's team, David Lighty. If you are heading into a game against the buckeyes, I wouldn't recommend it. David Lighty is a well-seasoned leader,really well seasoned. Many might have forgotten he played a key reserve role as a lock-down defender in the National Championship Game. Huh? Yep. He was on the same team that boasted NBA one-and-doner's Greg Oden, Michael Conley and Daquan Cook. If it feels like Lighty has been in Colombus for a really, really long time... it's because he HAS.
As a matter of fact, this year's Buckeye squad reminds me a little bit of the Gator team that bested them to cut down the nets in 2006-2007. Lighty fits nicely in the role of Corey Brewer, while Sullinger can plug into the Al Horford role (more refined offensive game, and not quite as dominant a rebounder). Ohio State has a stable of athletic, defense/rebound first bigs who mimic the production and energy of Joakim Noah. Diebler gives the Bucks a gasp out loud every time he catches the ball open on the arc shooter, much in the way Lee Humphrey spread defenses for Billy Donovan.
Both teams, in addition to great talent, had players ideally suited to fulfill individual defined roles with aplomb (similar to Syracuse last year).
It's just one game, but it's a heck of an opening statement for Ohio State. If forced to gaze into the Maniac Crystal Ball, I'd put them on par with Duke, even up with Michigan State and better than Kansas State, Kansas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Pitt,Syracuse; anyone you want to throw out there.
For the Gators? Their opening impression is every bit as frightening as OSU's was energizing. As I wrote before the game, returning all five starters isn't as good of news as it might seem if none of those five starters were that outstanding to begin with. Florida has a good shot to make the tourney in a still-down SEC, however I'd be very surprised to see them playing after the tourney's opening weekend.
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