Keys for an Ohio State victory

1 William Buford » Ohio State has been successful despite his scattershot work from the floor (29.5 percent in the tournament). Last year, the Buckeyes were rolling before Buford shot 2-for-16 in a loss to Kentucky in the Sweet 16. He scored 21 points in the first meeting of the teams in December. Matching up with the senior is always difficult with his quickness and length at 6-foot-6. He leads Ohio State with 59 3-pointers. The only other consistent threat from beyond the arc is Deshaun Thomas, who has 49. When the competition is fierce, Ohio State needs Buford to be at his best.

2 Debunk the junk » In the tournament, Kansas has had success with a triangle-and-two defense, flummoxing teams such as North Carolina and Purdue that have been ill-prepared for the tactic, which is designed to negate two primary scoring options. When faced with this defense in the second half, both teams were slow to recognize the set. There are holes in a triangle-and-two that teams with balanced scoring attacks can exploit. Kansas might use the defense to try to stop Jared Sullinger inside and one of the Buckeyes who might heat up outside. There will be no excuse if the Buckeyes are similarly stymied.

Keys for a Kansas victory

1 Hands off approach » No player in the tournament has drawn more fouls or scored more points at the free throw line (27) than Ohio State’s 6-9, 265-pound bulldozer Jared Sullinger, who averages 17.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Kansas needs to keep Jeff Withey (20 tournament blocks), its 7-foot defensive stalwart, in the lineup. Ditto for low-post offensive force Thomas Robinson (17.9 ppg, 11.8 rpg). Kansas is a different team in the halfcourt with Withey on the floor. With 10 blocks in the Sweet 16, he single-handedly wrecked N.C. State

2 Get open 3s » Playing in the run-and-gun Big 12 and against four offensive-minded teams in the NCAA, Kansas hasn’t faced a team as rugged as Ohio State since December. To combat the Buckeyes’ defense, which is at its best in the halfcourt, Kansas should run when opportunities arise. The Jayhawks also need to hit 3-pointers to spread the Buckeyes out and put them in chase mode. In the Dec. 10 meeting between the teams, a 78-67 Kansas win, the Jayhawks were successful in large part because they hit nine of 17 shots from beyond the arc.

Key matchup

Aaron Craft (Ohio State) vs. Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas)

The heavyweight duel between first-team All-Americans Jared Sullinger (Ohio State) and Thomas Robinson (Kansas) is the marquee matchup. But the battle more likely to swing the game is at the point. When Kansas rolled past Ohio State in December, Taylor (13 assists) repeatedly got by Craft. His penetration was key to Kansas’ 58.3 percent shooting, but he also had seven turnovers.

By the numbers

20 Consecutive 3-pointers missed by Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor in the NCAA tournament, including 17 this year. The streak extends over six games.

57 Turnovers forced by Ohio State point guard Aaron Craft, tops in the nation, according to ESPN. The sophomore also ranks second in steals with 95.

13 Coaches who have won multiple NCAA titles. Kansas’ Bill Self (2008) and Louisville’s Rick Pitino (1996 at Kentucky) will try to join the list.

33.3 Three-point accuracy of Ohio State, which ranks 217th in the NCAA. Last year the Buckeyes led the nation at 42.3 percent.

Last meeting

Kansas 78, Ohio State 67 (Dec. 10, 2011)

How much can be gleaned from a game in which Jared Sullinger (back spasms) didn’t play and the Buckeyes, lacking his inside presence, failed to block a shot? Thomas Robinson (21 points) took advantage inside, hitting seven of nine shots. Elijah Johnson made five of seven from beyond the arc, and Tyshawn Taylor (nine points, 13 assists) set it all up in a game Kansas never trailed at Phog Allen Fieldhouse.

Examiner predicts …

Ohio State 72, Kansas 68

If there’s a team happy to be here, it’s Kansas. Not much was expected of the Jayhawks after the loss of four starters, including NBA lottery picks Markieff and Marcus Morris. But their departure allowed Thomas Robinson to blossom. The return of Jared Sullinger meant NCAA title or bust for Ohio State. Losing at this stage would be a disappointment. That prospect and a superior starting five will fuel the Buckeyes.

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