Bait and Switch? Buckeyes Host Gators

One year ago, Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger had a coming-out party in Gainesville with 26 points and 10 rebounds. The herculean effort led the Buckeyes to a surprising 93-75 victory over host Florida and made a powerful statement in the process. 

Tonight, Florida freshman Brad Beal is hoping to return the favor.

The 6-3 guard is one of several imposing Gators invading the Schottenstein Center for tonight's 8 PM showdown between No. 3 Ohio State and No. 8 Florida. The top-10 clash is part of ESPN's fourth-annual college basketball marathon which began at Midnight between Washington State and Gonzaga.

Beal, a McDonald's All-American, and Rutgers transfer Michael Rosario join Gator guards Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton to form a backcourt that assuredly kept Thad Matta awake the past few nights. Rosario averaged 16 points per game two seasons ago for the Scarlet Knights, while Walker and Boynton combined on 28 points last season for the 29-8 Gators.

ESPN is hoping opposites do attract. With Florida being perimeter-oriented, going 13-of-30 from 3-point range in a season-opening, 99-59 win against Jackson State, the game marks a stark contrast of styles. The Buckeyes, who made just five shots from behind-the-arc in their 73-42 win against Wright St, will hold a size and depth advantage inside against the Gators. 

Last year, Sullinger's performance came against a formidable front that included 3-year starter Vernon Macklin and forward Alex Tyus. Though Florida actually led 41-38 at half, the Buckeyes caught fire in a torrid second-half by shooting 63 percent from the field en route to a 55-34 run. This year, the Buckeyes will have to guard against streaky shooting and must defend its home floor.

"I think (Florida is) one of the best teams I've seen so far," Matta said Monday in preparation for the game. 

With so much attention on All-American Sullinger, 6-9 sophomore Patric Young will be the man tasked with trying to limit his damage. Young played sparingly in last season's contest, scoring 2 points and grabbing three boards. For the season, he averaged 3.4 and 3.8 respectively in just under 18 minutes per game. 

However, beyond Young, the Gators have just two players over 6-6 on their roster and both are slender forwards. So while Florida will arrive in Columbus looking for a shootout, the Buckeyes will be looking for a street fight. 

Ohio State will be relying heavily on point guard Aaron Craft to do what he usually does: make life a living hell on opposing guards. 

Last year, the meeting in Gainesville was a bit of a party for Craft too. While having a more modest 7 points and five assists, Craft handled full court pressure by Florida like a seasoned veteran. It was an eye-opener for Matta.

"I think it was his poise," Matta recalled of his first impression of Craft. "He was stoic, he showed no signs of being a freshman in his first road game and his ability to do what we were asking him to do at the level he did it. That's probably what stood out the most."

Craft, William Buford, Lenzelle Smith and the rest of the Buckeye defenders will have their work cut out for them. Beal averaged 32 points per game last year for unbeaten Chaminade in St. Louis, and had 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting in his collegiate debut Friday night. He is one quarter of a dangerous tandem.

The meeting -- twelfth all time between the two schools -- is the latest in what appears to be a burgeoning rivalry. Ohio State owns a 7-4 record all-time. However, it's the fifth time the two have met since 2006 including the 2007 National Championship game. Matta said that he and Florida head coach Billy Donovan have become close friends and speak often during the season, which has led to the mutual scheduling interest.

One might wonder if Matta is concerned the game is coming a bit too quickly. However, Matta dispelled that concern.

"I think this game is a good barometer for us," he said shrugging off the issue of timing. 

It won't be the last gauge for the Buckeyes. Looming later this month is Duke in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge as well as a mid-December trip to Kansas. The Gators, meanwhile, are picked to finish third in a newly merged SEC. The conference did away with the divisional split, and now all 12 teams are competing for one crown. 

In last year's game, there were just 43 total rebounds with both teams shooting over 60 percent from the field. Despite Florida's press and trapping, it was the Gators that committed the lion's share of the turnovers (18) to Ohio State's eight. Boynton lit up Ohio State for 21 points including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. 

Florida isn't the only one with new faces. The Buckeyes will be eager to see how Smith, Jordan Sibert, Shannon Scott, Evan Ravenel and Sam Thompson respond to their first major tests in a Buckeye uniform. Matta's rotation, which is unlikely to run 12-deep tonight, could also include J.D. Weatherspoon who is nursing a sprained ankle suffered late in the first half against the Raiders. 

Despite these questions, Las Vegas thinks highly of the Buckeyes. Ohio State opened as 10.5-point favorites Monday night -- a surprising margin. 

This game is the second of four games in the Global Sports Shootout. The event is a 5-team round-robin including last Friday's opponents Wright St. and Jackson St. as well as North Florida. The tournament is considered exempt, meaning just one of the four games count against the allowed total of 31 for each team during the regular season.