NEW ORLEANS -- Yeah, Jared Sullinger makes a difference.
Ohio State's sophomore All-American, who sat out a December loss to Kansas with back spasms, scored seven points in a first half in which the Buckeyes put KU on its heels. By the six-minute mark, they were up 13 points.
By halftime, it was 34-25.
Kansas' Jeff Withey got a hand on Sullinger's first shot less than a minute into the game. Undaunted, the 6-9, 280-pound Sullinger came right back at the 7-footer moments later and dropped a short shot over his outstretched hand. Game on.
Around him, the Buckeyes got the balance that has carried them into their 10th Final Four – a couple of three-pointers from William Buford, three more from DeShaun Thomas, Aaron Craft and Lenzelle Smith Jr. and Craft's trademark defensive doggedness.
The Big Ten defensive player of the year quickly staked out his turf against mercurial Kansas point guard Tyshawn Taylor. Taylor missed his first couple of shots, the second an airball, and Craft then drew a charge.
Four minutes later, Craft was on the receiving end of offensive by from the Jayhawks' Elijah Johnson.
Kansas had gotten here in spite of some miserable shooting – barely 40% -- in its first four tournament games, and it was quickly apparent: The Jayhawks hadn't refound their touch since leaving St. Louis and the Midwest Regional six nights earlier. They missed 14 of their first 18 attempts from the field, and hit just 37% in the first 20 minutes.
They trailed by nine only by virtue of a Withey block of Craft and Travis Releford layup at the other end at the buzzer.
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