2012 Final Four: Like Kentucky, Ohio State Awaits NBA Decisions

The Kentucky Wildcats may have been peerless this season. Even so, the Ohio State Buckeyes have at least one thing in common: waiting on NBA decisions.

Kentucky claimed its eighth national title Monday, downing the Kansas Jayhawks 67-59. The question now is whether UK's ballyhooed underclassmen will return to school -- a feeling Ohio State knows well.

UK stars Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Doron Lamb, Marquis Teague and Terrence Jones all figure to be surefire picks if they leave college early for the NBA Draft. Indeed, Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist would almost certainly go in the top three.

Senior Darius Miller is projected to go in the second round.

It's a different order of magnitude, but Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas, the team's top two scorers, might be headed to the NBA as well.

Sullinger is projected as a lottery pick, and according to the Associated Press, Thomas's stock is high as well:

Thomas was a breakout star in the NCAA tournament, leading the Buckeyes in scoring. A multidimensional 6-foot-7 forward, he might consider leaving if he's projected to be selected in the first round.

Sullinger was projected as a lottery pick last year before deciding to return for his sophomore season. His draft stock might have dipped a little, but he'd still likely be a high first-round pick if he comes out.

"I honestly don't know yet," said Sullinger, who pulled up his jersey to cover his face after the loss to Kansas.

Players have until April 29 to declare. However, if they declare but want to withdraw their names prior to the draft, they must do so before April 11.

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Kentucky Vs. Kansas Final Score: Wildcats Win Eighth Title By Beating Jayhawks 67-59

The Kentucky Wildcats won the national championship on Monday night, beating the Kansas Jayhawks 67-59. It was their program's eighth time cutting down the nets and Coach Calipari's first title.

The Wildcats took a commanding 14-point lead into the second half and didn't really start to sweat until Kansas finally cut it to single digits with a little over four minutes remaining. Kansas had a chance to get it to four at one point, but Thomas Robinson's acrobatic and-one attempt didn't drop. Instead, he hit his two free throws and had the deficit at five, and it wouldn't get any closer than that.

Kansas' final hopes were dashed when Elijah Johnson was called for a traveling violation on a pump fake, step-back three-pointer that he actually sank and would've trimmed it to a three-point game.

Anthony Davis was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player. He was 1-for-10 in the game, but he recorded team highs in rebounds (16), assists (5) and blocks (6).

For more on the Kentucky Wildcats check out A Sea Of Blue. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks check out Rock Chalk Talk, and for more on the NCAA Tournament you can head over to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Hub.

Kentucky Vs. Kansas Score Update: Wildcats Up 14 At Half Of National Championship Game

For the right to trim down the nets in New Orleans, the Kentucky Wildcats hold a 14-point lead at the half on the Kansas Jayhawks, 41-27.

Kansas shot just 33-percent in the first half while the Wildcats' run-and-gun offense was successful on 53-percent of their attempts. Thomas Robinson, who is getting blanketed by a mix of Terrence Jones and Anthony Davis, is shooting only 3-for-11.

Anthony Davis is 0-for-4, but he has game-highs in rebounds (9), assists (4) and blocks (3).

The game was tied at 7-7, but Kentucky went on to outscore the Jayhawks 34-20 the rest of the half, which included a 14-4 run over seven minutes starting at the 10 minute mark.

For more on the Kentucky Wildcats check out A Sea Of Blue. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks check out Rock Chalk Talk, and for more on the NCAA Tournament you can head over to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Hub.

Printable NCAA Bracket 2012: One Slot Still Open For Kentucky And Kansas

The Ohio State Buckeyes came up painfully short in the NCAA Tournament semifinals on Saturday night, losing a late lead and the game to the Kansas Jayhawks. The loss ended the Buckeyes march through the NCAA Tournament bracket, as Kansas and Kentucky advanced leaving one more open slot to fill in on tournament brackets around the country.

With 62 slots filled in, that one blank in the middle will soon be inked in as either Kentucky or Kansas cuts down the nets on Monday night in New Orleans. You can take a look back at how the Wildcats and Jayhawks made their way to the championship game, as well as how where other teams fell short in the tournament with SB Nation's printable 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket.

As tough as it will be to watch for Ohio State fans, the championship matchup should be plenty entertaining. Back in November, Kentucky beat Kansas on a neutral court in New York which should have little bearing on the championship matchup. Regardless of the familiarity from the earlier matchup, Kentucky will remain the favorite heading into Monday thanks to their strong play throughout the tournament and the variety of ways they can beat an opponent.

For more NCAA tournament coverage, head to SB Nation's 2012 tourney hub page. Stay with SB Nation for an updated 2012 printable bracket. More on the Louisville Cardinals can be found at Card Chronicle, check out A Sea Of Blue for more on the Kentucky Wildcats.

Final Four Bracket 2012, Ohio State Vs. Kansas: Jayhawks Edge Buckeyes 64-62 In Thriller

The dream of a national championship went down the drain for Jared Sullinger and the Ohio St. Buckeyes on Saturday night, as the Kansas Jayhawks hung on to advance to Monday's finale against Kentucky.

Sullinger, who shot a frustrating 5-for-19 in the loss, was stifled by Kansas center Jeff Withey's length on the inside, and was unable to get his offense going in the second half. Freshman teammate Deshaun Thomas was hardly any better for head coach Thad Matta, as he finished just 3-for-14 from the field and 1-for-8 from behind the arc.

Kansas, who trailed by nine at half, took its biggest lead of the game (three points) with just 1:04 on the clock. The Jayhawks' win represented the largest first half deficit to come back and win from in a Final Four game since Duke over Maryland in 2001.

The No. 2 seeded Jayhawks will take on Kentucky in Monday's NCAA championship game, while the Buckeyes are expected to suffer heavy attrition with a bevy of players headed to the NBA.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks check out Rock Chalk Talk, and for more on the NCAA Tournament you can head over to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Hub.

Ohio State Vs. Kansas, Final Four 2012 Halftime Score: Sharp Buckeyes Lead Jayhawks 34-25

With a date in Monday's finale against Kentucky on the line, the Ohio State Buckeyes lead the Jayhawks 34-25 after 20 minutes of action in Saturday night's Final Four battle.

Thad Matta's team is shooting an impressive 50% (5 of 10) from three-point range, and leading scorer William Buford (8 points) has added a pair of triples in addition to his team-high (tie) four rebounds.

The Jayhawks have managed to grab seven offensive rebounds in the game, but are shooting just 36.7% as a team. All-American forwards Jared Sullinger (7 points, 4 rebounds) and Thomas Robinson (8 points, 3 rebounds) have each made their respective presences known during the game, and will be expected to go toe-to-toe in the low post in the second half.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks check out Rock Chalk Talk, and for more on the NCAA Tournament you can head over to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Hub.

Final Four 2012 Video: SB Nation's YouTube Channel Breaks Down Ohio State-Kansas, Kentucky-Louisville

SB Nation's Dan Rubenstein and Nick Fasulo break down the 2012 Final Four for SB Nation's YouTube channel:

In the Ohio State-Kansas game, Fasulo thinks the Tyshawn Taylor match up with Aaron Craft is going to be key and could wind up being a defining moment in Taylor's career. Fasulo thinks Kevin Young could again be an unsung hero for Kansas, like he was back in December when the Jayhawks knocked off Ohio State behind Young's 14 points and strong defensive effort.

Fasulo also doesn't believe either team will be affected by the big stage of the Superdome and the potential depth perception problems that might come with .

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks check out Rock Chalk Talk, and for more on the NCAA Tournament you can head over to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Hub.

2012 Final Four, Ohio State Vs. Kansas: Officials For Saturday's Game

The 2012 NCAA Final Four tips off tonight, first with Kentucky-Louisville followed shortly thereafter with the Ohio State-Kansas game. If you're looking for the full schedule of tonight's Ohio State game, you can find that at the preceding link.

The referees should never be the story, but they have affected a few games in major ways this tournament. Hopefully, tonight's refs will not make household names out of themselves, but Gregg Doyel of CBSSports tweeted who will be working the game:

Officials for Kansas-Ohio State: Jamie Luckie, Tom Eades and Patrick Adams.

— Gregg Doyel (@greggdoyelcbs) March 31, 2012

These three will likely let the two teams play, but Jamie Luckie is known to not let things get too out of hand and isn't afraid to pull the trigger on whistling technicals.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks check outRock Chalk Talk, and for more on the NCAA Tournament you can head over to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Hub.

Final Four 2012, Ohio State Vs. Kansas: TV Schedule, Game Time And More

NCAA Final Four Saturday is finally here but it will be a long day for the Ohio State Buckeyes and their fans as they wait to tip off their semifinal matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday night.

Much of the attention in New Orleans has been focused on the early game between the Kentucky Wildcats and Louisville Cardinals. Not only do Kentucky and Louisville share a heated rivalry with one another thanks to the geographic proximity between the schools, but coaches John Calipari and Rick Pitino both enjoy bathing in the media spotlight and the media is happy to oblige.

But that leaves an equally intriguing game between Ohio State and Kansas that will include just as much talent and high-level coaching by Thad Matta and Bill Self. Although despite the emphasis on coaching in the college game, at this point in the tournament the players will decide who will play for the National Championship on Monday with their play on the court.

Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

First Game: Kentucky Vs. Louisville, 6:09 p.m. ET

Second Game: Ohio Stave vs. Kansas, 8:49 p.m. ET (approximate)

TV: CBS

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks check out Rock Chalk Talk, and for more on the NCAA Tournament you can head over to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Hub.

NCAA Bracket 2012 Printable: Louisville, Kentucky, Ohio State, Kansas Make Up Final Four

The NCAA Tournament's 68-team field has been narrowed down to just four teams, and all of them will play Saturday in New Orleans, La. The winners advance to play in the National Championship Game on Monday, when many bracket contests will finally have a champion.

If your bracket pool is coming down to this weekends contestant -- No. 4 Louisville Cardinals vs. No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats at 6:49 p.m. ET on CBS; No. 2 Ohio St. Buckeyes vs. No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks at 8:49 p.m. ET on CBS -- and if you're in need of a updated printable bracket, well, you're in luck as SB Nation.com has one.

All you need to do is click on the link above.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks check out Rock Chalk Talk, and for more on the NCAA Tournament you can head over to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Hub.

2012 Final Four, Ohio State Vs. Kansas: Game Preview

The Kentucky based Cardinals vs. Wildcats final four game is being almost universally forecast as a Kentucky blowout, and for good reason; the Wildcats have far and away the better team. Far more intriguing will be the later match between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Kansas Jayhawks.

The two teams are actually quite similar in make up, so it's hard to separate the two. Both teams feature two star shooters and a good supporting cast that can play decent defense.

Kansas has simply refused to go away this season, perhaps overachieving en route to a narrow conference win and a No. 2 seed but always living up to whatever expectations were placed on them. They won some tough games to get to their Final Four appearance led by Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor, one of the most dynamic duos in college basketball this season. One of those two has always seemed to have his A game every match, which has been enough to carry Kansas even on sub-par shooting days.

Ohio State have been carried mostly by their own dynamic duo of Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas but they have a strong starting five all over past them and a dynamic offense that has outgunned every team that they have faced so far in the tourney.

Kansas just don't seem to break even when bent this season, and they'll need to be at their best against a relentless Buckeye offense. Both teams have strong defenses that hold points to a premium so it will be a bit of bending by both sides. Jeff Withey and his fantastic prowess for blocking during the tournament could be the X factor if the Jayhawks want to pull out a win.

This one is tough to call either way, but we're guaranteed an entertaining and hopefully well matched game.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks check out Rock Chalk Talk, and for more on the NCAA Tournament you can head over to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Hub.

NCAA Tournament 2012: Lenzelle Smith, Jr. Vs. Elijah Johnson Could Be Big

A pair of matchups have garnered the majority of attention heading into Saturday's Final Four matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Kansas Jayhawks -- Jared Sullinger vs Thomas Robinson, and Aaron Craft vs Tyshawn Taylor.

Dick Vitale, for one, "cannot wait to see the showdown in the paint" between Sullinger and Robinson, while others have pinpointed the matchup between Craft and Taylor as a potential game-changer.

But while Sullinger and Robinson are both First-Team All-Americans, and while Taylor and Craft are two of the better guards in America, there is another duel that could help decide the game: Ohio State's Lenzelle Smith, Jr. vs Kansas' Elijah Johnson.

Smith, Jr., a sophomore guard, is averaging just 6.6 points per game on the season, but he went on a tear last weekend. In the Sweet 16 against Cincinnati he had 15 points off of just seven field goal attempts (he hit three of four three-pointers). He followed that up with an 18-point performance against Syracuse, once against knocking down three triples.

Smith exceeding 15 points would be huge for a team that gets virtually no scoring from the bench: The bench had two points and eight points, respectively, against Cinci and Syrcause.

Kansas has a similarly thin bench, which will make Johnson's production a must. The junior guard has had a solid tournament, hitting 9 of 20 three-pointers and reaching double-figures in each game (he averages an even 10.0 on the season). He has the ability to light it up, having scored at least 15 points in four of the last six games.

KU's top bench scorer is Conner Teahan, who averages just 5.7 points and who had zero points in 13 minutes in the regional final against North Carolina.

The Sullinger/Robinson and Craft/Taylor matchups will continue to get the press, but it could well be someone else who decides this one.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NCAA Basketball hub at SBNation.com/NCAA-Basketball.

2012 NCAA Final Four, Ohio State: Jared Sullinger Leads Buckeyes

Neither the Ohio State Buckeyes nor the Kansas Jayhawks have defensive mettle like, say, the Michigan State Spartans have. They have won their games in the NCAA tournament with impressive offensive performances, and their key players are the men who put up tons of points. Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson are the big two for Kansas, both 20 point threats on any given night.

Fortunately, the Buckeyes have their own pair of 20 point threats, with Jared Sullinger the marquee name of the Buckeyes cast.

Sullinger was named Doug Gottlieb's third best player currently in the Final Four, right behind Anthony Davis of Kentucky and Kansas' Robinson. Sullinger has torn the tourney up so far with barrels of points, the biggest game being a 23 point performance against Cincinnati in the Sweet 16, where he also took down 11 rebounds. His 19 points against Syracuse were huge in their Elite Eight win, acting as the game changer despite getting into early foul trouble.

If Sullinger has a bad day he can count on DeShaun Thomas, who was right behind Sullinger in both points and rebounds for the Buckeyes this season. He has had a great tournament for himself, with 24 points against Cincy and 14 against Syracuse along with a masterclass 31 point, 12 rebound performance to destroy Loyola in the tournament's second round.

Those two pace the team's offense and rebounding numbers, but there is plenty of talent scattered around the Buckeyes lineup. Guys like Lenzelle Smith Jr. can step up in big moments, Smith in particular scoring 18 against Syracuse's tough defensive squad in the Elite Eight. Kansas will be putting up big numbers themselves, but they will have plenty to watch out for against a tough Buckeye offense led by Sullinger and Thomas.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks check out Rock Chalk Talk, and for more on the NCAA Tournament you can head over to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Hub.

Thad Matta Cashes In Bonus Money With Ohio State Trip To The Final Four

2012 NCAA Final Four, Kansas: Jayhawks Led By Thomas Robinson, Tyshawn Taylor Duo

Ohio State had their hands full against a tough Syracuse team in the Elite Eight, but a Syracuse team that was missing one of its best players in Fab Melo. They will be meeting a full tilt Kansas Jayhawks team in the Final Four, a team that has plenty of talent all over the court that the Buckeyes will have to handle including a forward/guard duo that has been lighting the tournament aflame.

Thomas Robinson in particular is going to be the man to watch for Kansas, as he has been all year. The Junior forward really came into his own in 2012, leading the Jayhawks with a double-double of averages; 17.9 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game.

Doug Gottlieb of ESPN ranked Robinson the second best player in the Final Four, as he was brilliant during the regular season and showed why he was worth the hype so far during the tournament. Robinson scored 18 points in the past two Jayhawk wins and has hauled in nine or more rebounds every game as well. Even then, he hasn't been in his top form the entire tournament, getting double double numbers on subpar shooting games by his standards in the win over Purdue (11 points, seven of which came from free throws) and the win over North Carolina (18 points on only 6-16 shooting).

Tyshawn Taylor provides the Jayhawks with another 20 point scoring threat, and he has picked up the slack on Robinson's lesser performance days. The guard was the star of Kansas' Elite Eight win over the Tarheels with 22 points. Between Taylor and Robinson, the Jayhawks have two proven scoring threats, plus a great cast of players behind them including rebound specialist Jeff Withey.

The Buckeyes certainly have their own great impact players like Jared Sullinger, but they'll need big performances from all over the court to counter the Jayhawks' big two of Robinson and Taylor. Of course, judging by how this tournament has gone, even a subpar performance from those two could mean big numbers for Kansas.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream. For more on the Kansas Jayhawks check out Rock Chalk Talk, and for more on the NCAA Tournament you can head over to SB Nation's NCAA Tournament Hub.

Statistical Look At The Officiating In Ohio State's Elite 8 Win Over Syracuse

Final Four 2012: Great Matchups Abound In Ohio State-Kansas Semifinal

The Kansas Jayhawks had their best NCAA Tournament game against their toughest opponent.

The No. 2 seed Jayhawks barely scraped by third- and four-round opponents Purdue and North Carolina State, winning those two by a combined six points.

But KU hit its stride against the No. 1 seed North Carolina Tar Heels. The Jayhawks scored 47 points in the first half alone -- they came in averaging just 63 in the Tournament -- and scored the final 12 points of the game en route to an 80-67 win.

Senior point guard Tyshawn Taylor had a game-high 22 points.

While Taylor's matchup with Ohio State's defensive stopper Aaron Craft will be one to watch, Jared Sullinger and Thomas Robinson will square off in one of the season's most anticipated duels.

Both players were named AP First-Team All-Americans on Monday, adding some extra spice to what is already a primetime matchup.

Sullinger was sidelined when these teams met earlier this season in Lawrence, a game which Kansas won by 11, 78-67.

Sullinger, who is averaging 17.6 points and 9.3 boards on the season, has had a soild NCAA Tournament thus far. The sophomore had 23 points against Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 and followed that up with 19 in the regional final against Syracuse -- and that despite playing just 26 minutes because of foul trouble. He is averaging 8.3 boards as well.

Robinson has been just as important for the No. 2 seed Jayhawks. The junior is averaging 15.8 points and 12.5 boards per game. He went for 18 and 9 in the Jayhawks' Elite Eight win over North Carolina, and notched 18 and 15 in the Sweet 16 win over North Carolina State.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NCAA Basketball hub at SBNation.com/NCAA-Basketball. For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

2012 Final Four, Ohio State: How The Buckeyes Got To New Orleans

The Ohio State Buckeyes are headed to the Final Four for the first time since 2007, the year they lost to Florida in the national championship game, as the representatives of the East regional after they knocked off the No. 1 Syracuse Orange on Saturday.

The Buckeyes' road to New Orleans started during the March Madness selection show shortly after they lost to the Michigan State Spartans in the Big Ten tournament finals. You see, the loss meant they would not be a No. 1 seed and, instead, they were given a No. 2 in the East. Who knows if it would have been a perfect swap had they defeated the Spartans for the second time in a week, but Ohio State arguably received the much better draw as the No. 2 seed rather than the No. 1.

After beating No. 15 Loyola Maryland by 19 in the officially titled Second Round, the Buckeyes drew No. 7 Gonzaga, who defeated No. 10 West Virginia by 23. Ohio State staved off a late comeback attempt by the Bulldogs to advance to take on the intrastate No. 6 seed Cincinnati. The Buckeyes again had to bounce back from a valiant run by their opponent, but in the end comfortably moved on to the next round to play the No. 1 seeded Syracuse.

In the Elite Eight, the Buckeyes matched up very well with No. 1 Syracuse, who were playing without their best big man Fab Melo because he was ruled ineligible before the tournament. Many believed Syracuse, who barely escaped Wisconsin in the Sweet 16, without Melo was already exceeding expectations, so a loss to Jared Sullinger, Deshaun Thomas and the Buckeyes was no stretch of any imagination.

Sure enough, Sullinger and Thomas made the Orange pay in the front court, scoring 33 points and grabbing 16 rebounds combined in helping the Buckeyes win 77-70 and advance to the Final Four in New Orleans.

Thomas' performance against Syracuse was actually his worst of the tournament, but he has 89 points in the four tournament games thus far and isn't sorry about it.

Ohio State isn't done, of course, and have to get through No. 2 Kansas from the Midwest region in order to make it back to the championship game.

Tip off will be on Saturday approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of the Louisville-Kentucky game, which tips at 6:09 p.m. ET.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream. For more 2012 NCAA Tournament coverage, head over to SB Nation's 2012 tourney hub page.

Final Four 2012: Thad Matta Takes Ohio State To His Second Final Four

Ever since the Ohio State Buckeyes lost to Kentucky last season in the Sweet 16 and Jared Sullinger decided to return for his sophomore season, Thad Matta's squad has eyed a Final Four. After upsetting Syracuse on Saturday, Ohio State has earned the right to play Kansas for a berth in the national championship game.

In the Elite 8 upset over Syracuse, Jared Sullinger produced 19 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. was the surprise star with 18 points. The Buckeyes have been very impressive in their run to the Final Four, winning each game by at least seven points.

Ohio State walked all over Loyola Maryland in its opening game before surviving a scare against a talented, but youthful Gonzaga team in the round of 32. The Buckeyes then squashed cross-town rival Cincinnati in the Sweet 16 to advance to their fateful match with the Orangemen.

DeShaun Thomas has averaged over 20 points per game in the tournament for the Buckeyes.

For more 2012 NCAA Tournament coverage, head over to SB Nation's 2012 tourney hub page. For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream.

PHOTO: The Aftermath Of Lenzelle Smith, Jr.'s Nasty Eye Injury

2012 Final Four Reactions: Ohio State Will Meet Kansas In Final Four

The Ohio State Buckeyes had some adversity this season when they couldn't pull off an outright win of the Big Ten Conference in the regular season and then couldn't win the Big Ten title game over Michigan State. They have had the last laugh though, being the last man from their conference standing in the NCAA Tournament thanks to a win in the Elite Eight over the Syracuse Orange.

Ohio State blog Along The Olentangy knows that the school pays more attention to their football team than their basketball team -- that's the way it always has been, seemingly -- but their coach Thad Matta deserves immense amounts of credit for the way he has molded Ohio State into a final four contender.

These past two weeks are another jewel in his crown. What Matta has done, raising an arguably under-recognized program to the pinnacle of college basketball, deserves commendation from the diehard and the most disinterested Ohio State fan alike. In eight seasons, Matta has gathered 221 wins, 98 within the conference, five conference regular season championship, and four Sweet Sixteen appearances, including an appearance in the 2007 National Championship game. His run is the best since Fred Taylor, legendary progenitor of the Ohio State basketball program, who won a national championship in 1960.

It's a good time to be a Buckeye for sure. Only Kansas stands in the way of Ohio State going for their first National Title in over 50 years.

For more 2012 NCAA Tournament coverage, head over to SB Nation's 2012 tourney hub page. For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream.

Final Four 2012 Schedule: Ohio State Set To Face Kansas In The Late Game

The Ohio State Buckeyes are headed to their first Final Four since 2007 and they will face one of the titans of college basketball, the Kansas Jayhawks. Thad Matta's club earned a trip to New Orleans with their thrilling 77-70 win over No. 1 seed Syracuse on Saturday night.

The Jayhawks secured the last spot in the Final Four with a double-digit victory over North Carolina on Sunday afternoon. It was a back-and-forth game between the KU and the Tar Heels, but Bill Self's club went on a run over the final three minutes to walk away with the win, setting up a rematch from the regular season.

The regular season game had one large missing component - namely, Jared Sullinger, who sat out with back spasms. The second edition will surely include Sullinger and is set as the nightcap primetime game on Saturday night, following the Kentucky rivalry game. Jim Nantz, Steve Kerr, and Buckeye alum Clark Kellogg will have the call.

First National Semifinal: No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats vs. No. 4 Louisville Cardinals (6:09 p.m., CBS)

Second National Semifinal: No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (8:49 p.m., CBS)

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub, and remember to pick up our printable NCAA Tournament bracket.

Final Four 2012: Both Semifinals Will be Regular Season Rematches

Even though the 2012 Final Four is Big East vs. SEC on one side and Big Ten vs. Big 12 on the other, there is a degree of familiarity between all four teams. That is because both semifinals are a rematch of a regular season non-conference game.

For Louisville vs. Kentucky, it is simply the next in the high stakes rivalry in the Bluegrass State. The two played on New Year's Eve in Lexington with the Wildcats winning state bragging rights with a 69-62 victory. The rivalry was thought to lie dormant until next season's meeting in Louisville but the fans will get a rematch in New Orleans. Russ Smith had a season high 30 points for Louisville int he first game, but Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 24 to go with 18 from Anthony Davis.

For Ohio State, the Buckeyes will look to avenge a tough regular season loss in which they were forced to play without Jared Sullinger. The buckeyes traveled to Lawrence and fell 78-67 to the Jayhawks on December 10th. Thomas Robinson had 21 points and seven rebounds, but will have a much more difficult time having to face Sullinger.

For more 2012 NCAA Tournament coverage, head over to SB Nation's 2012 tourney hub page. For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream.

NCAA Tournament 2012, North Carolina Vs. Kansas Final: Jayhawks Flourish Late To Oust Tar Heels

In a head-to-head battle that absolutely lived up to the immense hype, the Kansas Jayhawks edged the North Carolina Tar Heels 80-67 to win the Midwest region and advance to next weekend's Final Four in New Orleans.

The two programs lit up the scoreboard in the opening half, combining for 94 points, but really clamped down after the intermission at the defensive end. North Carolina's 20 second-half points were in stark contrast with the 47 it produced in the first 20 minutes.

Playing without point guard Kendall Marshall, the Heels were forced to use inexperienced freshman Stilman White at the lead guard spot against Kansas' stable of athletic guards. White did manage to set a game-high with seven assists, but was a liability defensively and struggled to get involved as a scorer.

Jayhawks senior Tyshawn Taylor, who continues to grow into a mature leader, led all players with 22 points and also chipped in five rebounds and five assists. One would think that slowing down Taylor will be the first order of business for the Ohio State Buckeyes and defensive stopper Aaron Craft next weekend.

For more 2012 NCAA Tournament coverage, head over to SB Nation's 2012 tourney hub page. For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy, or follow SB Nation Cleveland's Ohio State StoryStream.

2012 NCAA Tournament, UNC Vs. Kansas: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

As the Ohio St. Buckeyes anxiously await the identity of their Final Four opponent in New Orleans next weekend, the North Carolina Tar Heels and Kansas Jayhawks will square off in one of the most highly anticipated games of the college basketball season.

The Midwest region's top seed, the Tar Heels narrowly escaped an upset bid by the Ohio Bobcats on Friday, and look inherently more beatable without star point guard Kendall Marshall on the floor. Marshall's broken wrist came a the worst possible time, and has created entirely new mess of issues for head coach Roy Williams to deal with as he learns to live without his flashy distributor.

After taking down No. 1 Syracuse behind a strong second half push from Jared Sullinger, Ohio State clinched its first Final Four appearance since the Greg Oden-led team of 2007 lost to Florida in the finals. This current Buckeyes squad certainly has the makings of a title contender, but they will have to get past either North Carolina or Kansas to have a chance at wearing the crown.

Game Time: March 25, 5:05 p.m. ET

Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

TV: CBS

Announcers: Marv Albert, Steve Kerr

For more 2012 NCAA Tournament coverage, head over to SB Nation's 2012 tourney hub page. For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy. Also be sure to stay up with SB Nation's 2012 printable bracket.

Printable NCAA Bracket 2012: Ohio State Awaits Final Four Opponent From North Carolina, Kansas Game

The Ohio State Buckeyes inked their name in the Final Four slot from the East Region on the 2012 NCAA bracket Saturday night and now wait to see which team they will face on the big stage in New Orleans.

The 2012 NCAA Tournament wraps up the Elite Eight round of regional finals on Sunday with the Kentucky Wildcats taking on the Baylor Bears in the South Region and the North Carolina Tar Heels facing a fellow basketball blue blood in the Kansas Jayhawks in the Midwest Region.

The Buckeyes will face the winner of the Midwest Regional final while the Louisville Cardinals will take on either Kentucky or Baylor. Regardless of which two teams move their names into the remaining open bracket slots, Cinderella is taking the year off. As a No. 4 seed, Louisville is the closest thing to a Cinderella story in the Final Four, but a four seed making it this far is hardly surprising especially one coached by Rick Pitino.

Here's a look at the updated 2012 NCAA printable bracket along with the TV schedule for the games on Sunday.

Baylor vs. Kentucky, 2:20 p.m. ET, CBS

Kansas vs. North Carolina, 5:05 p.m. ET, CBS

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament 2012, Ohio State Vs. Syracuse Final: Buckeyes Survive 77-70, Headed To Final Four

Motivated after a heartbreaking loss to Kentucky in last year's tournament, the Ohio State Buckeyes are officially headed to the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans. The Buckeyes outlasted a deep, talented Syracuse team on Saturday for a 77-70 win, advancing and setting the stage for a semifinal match up with either Kansas or North Carolina next weekend.

As some expected, the Buckeyes fully dominated the rebounding battle, topping Syracuse 13 to 6 on the offensive glass, and 37 to 22 overall. Athletic wings Deshaun Thomas and William Buford each set the pace for Ohio State with nine rebounds apiece, in a game where not a single Syracuse starter grabbed more than three all night.

Despite producing only four points in the opening half, Ohio State big man Jared Sullinger came alive after the break, and feasted on a Fab Melo-less Syracuse interior defense. Sullinger's 19-point, seven rebound performance was made all the more impressive by his consistent 9-for-12 shooting day from the charity stripe. Highlights of Sullinger's huge second half below:

The Buckeyes, headed to their first Final Four since the Greg Oden-led team of 2007, will now wait anxiously to see who they will play next weekend in New Orleans.

For more Buckeyes coverage, head to Along The Olentangy. For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub.

ANIMATED: Lenzelle Smith, Jr. Comes Up Big For OSU With A Perfect Floater

VIDEO: Ohio State's Aaron Craft Makes An Incredible Save Against Syracuse

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NCAA Tournament 2012, Syracuse Vs. Ohio State Score Update: Buckeyes, Orange Deadlocked At 29 At Half

The battle for the East region is underway, and the Ohio State Buckeyes are deadlocked with Jim Boeheim's top-seeded Syracuse Orange 29-29 after 20 minutes. After seeing the Buckeyes storm out to an early 9-2 advantage, the two teams played even ball for the remainder of the half in a tightly-contested basketball game.

All-American forward Jared Sullinger has yet to get rolling offensively, and owns a meager line of four points and three rebounds. Teammates DeShaun Thomas and William Buford lead the way with six points for Ohio State, but the Buckeyes are shooting just 1-for-8 from the perimeter (12.5%) and 10-for-30 from the floor (33.3%).

For Syracuse, point guard Scoop Jardine, who posted 14 points in his team's Sweet 16 victory over Wisconsin on Thursday, is tops in the scoring column with seven points on 2-of-4 shooting.

For more Buckeyes coverage, head to Along The Olentangy. For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub.

Printable NCAA Bracket 2012: Buckeyes Look For A Spot In The Final Four

The NCAA Tournament field of 68 has been trimmed all the way down to eight, and the first steps to finalizing the members of the 2012 Final Four will be decided on Saturday. Both the East and West Region finals will be played, while the South and Midwest Regional finales will be held on Sunday.

Currently, the Ohio St. Buckeyes are looking to earn their first trip to the Final Four since 2007, when they lost to the Florida Gators in the National Championship game. Also still alive is the Buckeyes opponent, the No. 1-seeded Syracuse Orange, who are looking for their first Final Four appearance since '03.

Everything on this contest can be found at this StoryStream. Meanwhile, if you need a new and updated printable 2012 NCAA bracket, there it is.

Saturday, March 24

Florida vs. Louisville, 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Ohio St. vs. Syracuse, 7:05 p.m. ET, CBS

Sunday, March 25

Baylor vs. Kentucky, 2:20 p.m. ET, CBS
Kansas vs. North Carolina, 5:05 p.m. ET, CBS

For more coverage of Ohio State basketball in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, visit SB Cleveland's StoryStream.

Deshaun Thomas, Scorer, Philosopher Of Basketball, And The Best Quote In The NCAA Tournament

NCAA Tournament 2012 Sweet 16, Ohio State Vs. Cincinnati: Win Was No Walk In Park For Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes took out the Cincinnati Bearcats 81-66 on Thursday night, but the scoreline does not even come close to defining how exciting the game was at times. After going down by 12 at halftime, the Bearcats turned it on in the second half and in a span of four minutes managed to slice the lead off until a late Buckeyes rally put them down once again.

Ohio State blog Along The Olentangy details how the lead was lost due to the Buckeyes acting too much like 'Cool guys', via their star player Jared Sullinger.

Ohio State led for 32 of 40 minutes, but the Cincinnati run seemed like an eternity. The Buckeyes came out firing on all cylinders in the first half, making easy work of Cincinnati's 2-3 zone. DeShaun Thomas, in fact, scored 20 points in the first half alone en route to the 37-25 lead.

As has become a bit too common, however, the Buckeyes relaxed on its comfortable lead.

Jared Sullinger described this phenomenon in the postgame press conference as acting like "cool guys" when they get the lead, then having to resort back to "blue collar" guys when they get soft. The blue collar guys are one win away from a Final Four.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati blog Down The Drive knows that there is still a long way to go for this Bearcats team, despite the magical run they made in this tournament.

There is a lot of time to break down everything about this team. For now its time to face the hard truth. As far as this program has come under Mick Cronin, there is still ground to be covered. I think that Cronin got the most out of this team as possible, especially so when you consider the circumstances.

Ohio State will face No. 1 seeded Syracuse in the Elite Eight.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament 2012, Syracuse Vs. Ohio State: TV Schedule And Game Time

Almost immediately after Ohio State's 15-point win over Cincinnati, the NCAA announced the tip time for Saturday's Elite 8 showdown with Syracuse. Tip is now scheduled for 7:05 pm. Playing in Boston at the TD Garden, the Orange will likely have a home court advantage. The Garden was reportedly filled with 'Cuse fans on Thursday night. It will certainly be an exciting Saturday night, and the featured game of the day with two lesser seeds advancing out in Phoenix at the West Regional.

Game Time: March 22, 7:05 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

Announcers: Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery, Lesley Visser

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament 2012, Ohio State Vs. Cincinnati: Buckeyes Run Away Late, Advance To Elite Eight With 81-66 Win

The No. 2 seeded Ohio State Buckeyes are headed to the Elite Eight to take on No. 1 Syracuse this Saturday after knocking off the No. 6 Cincinnati Bearcats Thursday night by 15, 81-66.

The Buckeyes had a 12-point lead at the half, but the Bearcats came storming back by starting the second with a 24-8 run to take a four-point lead. Ohio State was not phased, though, as they responded with a 20-5 run of their own to recapture control and cruise into the Elite Eight.

In the first half, it was Deshaun Thomas who led the Buckeyes with 20 points, but it was Jared Sullinger who did the hard labor in the second. He had 13 points to finish out a strong 23-point effort to supplement his game-high 11 rebounds. Thomas finished with 26 and seven rebounds.

We have video of some second half Sullinger highlights:

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament 2012, Ohio State Vs. Cincinnati Score Update: Buckeyes Up 12 At Half Behind Deshaun Thomas' 20 Points

The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of two remaining representatives from the Big Ten in the NCAA Tournament after Michigan State and Wisconsin went down in the early Sweet 16 games and they appear poised to advance to the Elite Eight. At the half, they lead No. 6 Cincinnati by 12, 37-25.

The Buckeyes have been sharp since falling behind early 5-0, responding with a 13-2 run and taking over the half. Ohio State's run was also right around the time when Deshaun Thomas started to dominate the Bearcats, scoring five straight points on his way to a game-high 20.

We have video of all of Thomas' 20 points here:

Jared Sullinger added 10 points and nine rebounds.

The winner of this game will play No. 1 Syracuse in the East regional final on Saturday.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

Deshaun Thomas and Jared Sullinger Leading 37-25 First Half Lead for Ohio State

Ohio State and Cincinnati are facing off in the Sweet Sixteen in a battle between two in-state, out-of-conference rivals and the Buckeyes are off to a very good start.

Led by a white hot Deshaun Thomas, the Buckeyes have opened up a 37-25 lead over the Bearcats.

Thomas is 8-12 shooting and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, finishing the first half with 20 of Ohio State’s 37 points. He’s not the only one getting it done for the Buckeyes, though.

Big man Jared Sullinger has 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting and he already has nine rebounds.

Ohio State isn’t dominating on the glass, by any means, but they only have four turnovers compared to nine for the Bearcats, who are led in scoring by forward Justin Jackson, who has eight points, five rebounds, and three blocks off the bench.

Guard Cashmere Wright has added seven points for Cincinnati which is shooting under 39 percent from the field and less than 30 percent from three-point range. Ohio State is really shooting lights out from beyond the arc at 40 percent and over 45 percent from the floor.

ANIMATED: Cincinnati's Justin Jackson Unkind To Aaron Craft

VIDEO: NCAA Tournament Predictions For The Four Ohio Teams In The Sweet 16

Ohio State Head Coach Thad Matta, And His Relatively Unknown Handicap

NCAA Bracket 2012: Printable Version Updated For Thursday's Sweet 16 Schedule

The Sweet 16 is set to tip off Thursday, with Wisconsin and Syracuse getting things started at 7:15 ET.

For a complete list of all NCAA Tournament action, check out SB Nation's updated printable bracket.

SB Nation also has an updated list of all TV information -- tip times, channels, locations, even announcers -- available here.

In addition to No. 1 Syracuse versus No. 4 Wisconsin in the East Region, other Thursday action includes: No. 1 Michigan State versus No. 4 Louisville (West Region); No. 1 Ohio State versus No. 6 Cincinnati (East); No. 3 Marquette versus No. 7 Florida (West).

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament 2012, Cincinnati Vs. Ohio State: TV Schedule, Game Time And More

The Ohio State Buckeyes will face the in-state rival Cincinnati Bearcats in the Sweet 16 on Thursday.

VIDEO: March Madness Analytics Favor Ohio State Run To An NCAA Championship

2012 NCAA Tournament Schedule: Ohio State And Cincinnati Tip Off On Thursday Night

The second weekend of the NCAA Tournament is nearly upon us, and with four teams left in the dance, there's an Ohio presence throughout schedule for Thursday and Friday. Ohio State and Cincinnati will get things started on Thursday night, when the in-state foes square off in Boston in the late game which should tip around 10:00 pm EST. On Friday, Buckeye state fans won't have to stay up quite as late as both Ohio and Xavier will be playing in the early games from St. Louis and Atlanta. A complete Sweet 16 schedule can be found below:

Thursday, March 22

East Regional - Boston, MA

Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Lesley Visser (sideline)

No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 4 Wisconsin - 7:15 pm EST

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Cincinnati - approx. 30 minutes after conclusion of first game

West Regional - Phoenix, AZ

Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Len Elmore and Reggie Miller (analysts), Marty Snider (sideline)

No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 4 Louisville - 7:47 pm EST

No. 3 Marquette vs. No. 7 Florida - approx. 30 minutes after conclusion of first game

Friday, March 23

South Regional - Atlanta, GA

Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Clark Kellogg (analyst), Tracy Wolfson (sideline)

No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 7 Xavier - 7:15 pm EST

No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 4 Indiana - approx. 30 minutes after conclusion of first game

Midwest Regional - St. Louis, MO

Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst), Craig Sager (sideline)

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Ohio - 7:47 pm EST

No. 2 Kanas vs. No. 11 NC State - approx. 30 minutes after conclusion of first game

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

NCAA Bracket 2012: Ohio State's Path To The Sweet 16

It wasn't quite as effortless as last season, but the No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes are once again in the Sweet 16. It's their third straight trip to the regional semifinals and fourth in six years.

In 2011 the Buckeyes trounced each of their first two Tournament opponents -- Texas-San Antonio by 29 and then George Mason by 32. OSU will be more battle-tested this time around.

OK, the Loyola (Maryland) Greyhounds didn't put up much resistance. The Buckeyes led by 11 at halftime and cruised to a 78-59 win.

But the second game, versus Gonzaga, was competitive throughout. OSU led by just two at halftime, and the Bulldogs would force a 61-61 tie with four minutes to play. The Buckeyes buckled down, though, and held on for the 73-66 win.

Ohio State's balance has been the story more than any one outbreak performer. Against Gonzaga, OSU had four players -- Deshaun Thomas, Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft and William Buford -- who scored between 18 and 13. Kraft had 10 dimes against the Bulldogs, more than double his season average of 4.7.

Next up is an in-state showdown with Cincinnati.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

NCAA Bracket 2012, Gonzaga Vs. Ohio State Score: Buckeyes Win Thriler 73-66

The Ohio State Buckeyes picked up a big win in the NCAA tournament on Saturday, besting the Gonzaga Bulldogs 73-66 in a very close affair. With just three minutes to go, the Buckeyes and Bulldogs were actually tied at 61-61, with Gonzaga making some excellent shots in succession to overcome a near 10-point deficit. It wasn't a huge comeback, and it probably can't even be described as such anyway - seeing as how it fell short.

Gonzaga did make things interesting again near the very end, but Gary Bell Jr.'s three-pointer with 12 seconds left wasn't enough to lift them past Ohio State. The Buckeyes led by just two points after a very close first half that saw both teams lapse defensively, with OSU leading 39-37 after said half. They out-paced Gonzaga in the second though, with a score of 34-29 over that frame.

Ohio State added a couple free throws at the end to make it 73-66 and that was that. They'll advance past the No. 7 seed Bulldogs onto bigger and better things. Jared Sullinger, unsurprisingly, led the way with 18 points and two three-pointers made. Deshaun Thomas followed with three of his own three-pointers and a 7-for-14 mark shooting, while pulling down six rebounds - which was the most of any Ohio State player.

Rebounds are what really kept Gonzaga in this one, with 31 of them to Ohio State's 25, but the Buckeyes shot 48.1 percent on the night to Gonzaga's 38.6 percent. That was the deciding factor to a fast-paced, high energy game (though the first half is better described that way than the second).

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a completeprintable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

ANIMATED: Aaron Craft, Incredible Point Guard, Better Rubix Cube Solver

March Madness 2012, Gonzaga Vs. Ohio State Score Update: Buckeyes Hold 2-Point Halftime Lead On Bulldogs, 39-37

The No. 2 seeded Ohio State Buckeyes are facing the No. 7 seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Round of 32 for the right to play next weekend in Boston in the Sweet 16. In a first half that saw nine lead changes, the Buckeyes came out of the first 20 minutes on top, 39-37.

The first 30 seconds of the game saw Gonzaga and Ohio State trading buckets -- a two-point jumper for the Bulldogs answered with a three by Jared Sullinger -- and the rest of the first half played out in similar fashion. Ohio State finished the half shooting a scorching 62-percent, though, while Gonzaga was 44-percent.

Buckeyes' forward Deshaun Thomas led all scorers with 12 points off the bench, including five baskets in a row in the final five minutes of the half. We have video of those here:

The Bulldogs hung in there, though, forcing Sullinger to the bench with foul trouble and getting nine points from Sam Dower off the bench.

The second half is lining up for a typical March Madness finish, so tune into CBS.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a completeprintable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

March Madness 2012, Gonzaga Vs. Ohio State: TV Schedule, Game Time And More

The No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes face the No. 7 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs in the third round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

The Big Ten Buckeyes will have their hands full with the Bulldogs out of the West Coast Conference as Gonzaga proved in their first-round romp over West Virginia that they won't be pushed around by teams from the big conferences.

Seven foot center Robert Sacre leads a front line for the Zags that won't have any problems matching the size or physicality Ohio State has to offer. Jared Sullinger will have to be in attack mode in the paint for Ohio State while Deshaun Thomas needs to back up his 31 point, 12 rebound effort against Loyola (Md.) with another productive game.

The backcourt matchup may be even more intriguing as Kevin Pangos leads the attack for Gonzaga averaging 13.8 points and 3.4 assists per game. Pangos will have to be ready on Saturday as Ohio State's Aaron Craft will present a relentless challenge.

The East Region game will be at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Tip off is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. Eastern time and the game will be televised on CBS.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament Printable Bracket: Buckeyes Move On To Face Gonzaga In Pittsburgh

We're 24 hours into the big dance and 16 teams are already headed home. The Ohio State Buckeyes advanced late Thursday night with a 19-point win over Loyola, but their sluggish play against the Greyhounds won't be good enough in the next round when they face Gonzaga. Jared Sullinger stated after the game that they'll be packing their bags on Saturday if they play like that again.

Click here for your complete and updated 2012 Printable NCAA Tournament Bracket.

Cincinnati, Xavier, and Ohio are all in action today, looking to join the Buckeyes and play on the weekend. The Columbus first and second round site also tips off just before 1:00 pm with a host of compelling matchups that feature clashing styles of play.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket stick with SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on every March Madness game.

NCAA Tournament 2012, Ohio State Vs. Loyola: Buckeyes Roll In Opener, Will Face Gonzaga On Sunday

The Ohio State Buckeyes were impressive in their NCAA Tournament opener against Loyola, keeping the No. 15 seed Greyhounds are arm's length for the entire second half and cruising to a 78-59 win. They will now move on to face Gonzaga, who looked extremely impressive in their blowout of West Virginia in the Mountaineers backyard.

Deshaun Thomas was the star of the game, putting up huge numbers in a double-double effort. He scored a game-high 31 points while also grabbing 12 rebounds. Thomas is never shy to get his shots up and fill it up on the offensive end, and he simply overmatched Loyola in the paint. Jared Sullinger was content letting Thomas do the work on the offensive end, but the Buckeye star still added a double-double effort of his own, scoring 12 points and getting 10 boards. William Buford added 17 points from the outside.

The Buckeyes didn't shoot particularly well, especially from the outside but their size and skill on the inside was too much on both ends of the floor. The Bulldogs from Spokane will certainly present a much tougher test in that regard, but it was a good way to tip off the tournament for OSU.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Buckeyes, visit Along The Olentangy, SB Nation's Ohio State blog. For all your NCAA tournament news and analysis, be sure to visit SB Nation's college hoops hub.

Ohio State Vs. Loyola Score Update: Buckeyes Up 42-31 At The Half

The No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes started a little slow, but then methodically seized control to lead the No. 15 seed Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds, 42-30 at the half.

Ohio State attacked the lane to take advantage of their size and athletic ability to draw several trips to the free throw line. The Buckeyes only shot 30% from the floor but they made 15 of 18 free throw attempts which helped build a 15-point lead at one point before the Greyhounds made a late surge to cut the lead to 11at the break.

Deshaun Thomas leads Ohio State with 14 points and six rebounds, while Jared Sullinger added 12 points and six rebounds. Forward Erik Etherly lead Loyola (Md.) with ten points and five rebounds.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

Gonzaga Vs. West Virginia Final Score: Zags Beat Mountaineers 77-54, Await Buckeyes

The No. 7 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs served notice they are prepared to make a run in the NCAA tournament with an impressive 77-54 win over the No. 10 seed West Virginia Mountaineers.

In front of a pro-West Virginia crowd in Pittsburgh, the Zags kept things quiet with a 20-4 first half run that buried the Mountaineers. Gonzaga then expanded a 16-point halftime lead to 26 points early in the second half and then never let the Mountaineers mount a rally.

Gonzaga used a balanced attack to take down West Virginia with four starters scoring in double figures, led by center Robert Sacre's 14 points and six rebounds. Guard Kevin Pangos added 13 points and five assists for the Zags. Gary Browne led West Virginia off the bench with 15 points.

Gonzaga now awaits the winner of the No. 1 seed Ohio State vs. No. 16 seed Loyola (Md.) in Thursday's late game from Pittsburgh.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

March Madness 2012, Ohio State Vs. Loyola: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

No. 2 Ohio State couldn't win the Big Ten this season, faltering in the final against the Michigan State Spartans. The big tournament starts now for them as they take on No. 15 Loyola in the East bracket on Thursday evening.

Ohio State come into the tournament looking great with a 27-7 record and one of their best chances to win their second NCAA tournament in a while. They're led by plenty of talent including Jared Sullinger, who gave a fine performance in the Big Ten title game.

Loyola's Greyhounds got their slot in the tournament with a 24-8 record and the championship of the MAAC. Erik Etherly leads their offense with 13 points and seven rebounds per game, but past him the pickings are slim when it comes to straight talent on the Loyola roster.

This is only Loyola's second appearance all time in the NCAA Tournament with their first coming in 1994, when they lost to Arizona in the first round. They will need to put together an amazing basketball game to beat in form Ohio State, who except for the end of the Big Ten championship game have been near unbeatable in their most recent few games.

The game will be at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Tip off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Eastern time.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament 2012: Loyola Enters Tonight Confident, Doesn't Think Ohio State Is Very Deep

2012 NCAA Tournament Predictions: President Barack Obama Picks Ohio State To Reach Final Four

One thing that has become a March Madness tradition is the First Bracket, as ESPN's Andy Katz visits with Barack Obama to fill out the President's college hoops picks. In addition to filling out a bracket, Obama also took in some live action on Tuesday when he visited Dayton for the First Four game between Western Kentucky and Mississippi Valley State.

On Wednesday, he filled out his bracket again with Katz, and Buckeye fans will be pleased to know he has OSU winning the East region. Unfortunately for Ohio State fans, that's as far as he has Thad Matta's club advancing, with the Bucks losing to North Carolina in the national semifinal. He has the Heels winning at all, defeating Kentucky in the title game. That's the second time in his term that he's picked Roy Williams and UNC to cut down the nets.

More: Check out President Obama's complete bracket.

Perhaps looking to win some votes in Southwest Ohio, the President has both the Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers winning their first round games. The President did not predict a Bobcat upset, however, with OU dropping their opening round matchup to Michigan.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Buckeyes, visit Along The Olentangy, SB Nation's Ohio State blog. For all your NCAA tournament news and more on the Fab Melo suspension, be sure to visit SB Nation's college hoops hub.

Fab Melo News Changes Complexion Of East Region, Ohio State's Final Four Chances

NCAA Tournament 2012: SB Nation's YouTube Breakdown Of Ohio State's Region

SB Nation's Matt Ufford and Nick Fasulo break down the East Region of the NCAA Tournament for SB Nation's YouTube channel.

Fasulo thinks that top-seeded Syracuse could be vulnerable against potential second-round matchup Kansas State, which is one of the nation's top offensive rebounding teams. The No. 8-seed Wildcats average 14.2 offensive rebounds per game, good for 15th in the nation -- and second among BCS conference schools.

As for Ohio State, Fasulo thinks the Buckeyes will make it to the Elite 8. He wonders what coach Thad Matta might do with Jared Sullinger against that famous Syracuse zone, and talks about what it will take for Ohio State to advance to the Final Four.

For a printable bracket, click here.

For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NCAA Basketball news hub. More bracket breakdowns can be found at SB Nation's YouTube channel.

NCAA Bracket 2012: Ohio State Buckeyes Could Face Syracuse, Florida State In East Region

The Ohio St. Buckeyes fell just short of a Big 10 championship on Sunday afternoon, but they were still rewarded with a No. 2 seed in the East Region. Ohio St. will face the Loyola (MD) for their first game, and will see the winner of Gonzaga-West Virginia in the third round. As for potential matchups should Ohio State advance into the second weekend: Syracuse, Florida State, Wisconsin and Vanderbilt, among others.

Here is the complete bracket for the East Region:

No. 1 Syracuse
No. 16 UNC Asheville

No. 8 Kansas State
No. 9 Southern Miss

No. 5 Vanderbilt
No. 12 Harvard

No. 4 Wisconsin
No. 13 Montana

No. 2 Ohio State
No. 15 Loyola

No. 7 Gonzaga
No. 10 West Virginia

No. 3 Florida State
No. 14 St. Bonaventure

No. 6 Cincinnati
No. 11 Texas

The Florida St. Seminoles are red-hot right now, and just defeated Duke and North Carolina to win the ACC Tournament this week. The Syracuse Orange have been near the top of the polls all season long and Jim Boeheim is about as proven as you can get when it comes to NCAA Tournament experience. Looking for a non-top seed to reach the Final Four? Wisconsin and Vanderbilt are among the most popular choices from the experts.

Reaching the Final Four is certainly possible for the Ohio State Buckeyes, but it will be far from easy.

For more on Ohio State, visit Along The Olentangy. For more coverage of Ohio State in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, visit SB Nation Cleveland's STORYSTREAM. Click here for a link to our NCAA bracket 2012.

NCAA Tournament Bracket 2012: Ohio St. Buckeyes Could See Gonzaga, West Virginia In Third Round

The Ohio St. Buckeyes earned a No. 2 seed for the 2012 NCAA Tournament and will face the Loyola (MD) Greyhounds for their first game. Should the Buckeyes advance -- and they definitely should -- they will face either the No. 7 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs or No. 10 seed West Virginia Mountaineers. That matchup between GU and WVU appears to be a true toss-up and their play styles are very different from the other.

The Bulldogs like to push the tempo, while the Mountaineers like to bang around and use their physicality to gain an advantage. Both of the head coaches (Mark Few, Bobby Huggins) have plenty of NCAA Tournament experience and both will have their teams prepared for whatever comes their way.

If I'm the Buckeyes, I would prefer to play Gonzaga. They are the higher seed, but they have a freshman point guard who has been erratic at times and do not have the size to defend Ohio St. for 40 minutes.

The Mountaineers feature an incredibly talented player in Kevin Jones that is capable of taking over a game and creates matchup problems all over the floor with his size and strength. Combine him with senior point guard Darryl Bryant and their ability to grind games out down the stretch and you can see why WVU could present OSU with problems.

For more on Ohio State, visit Along The Olentangy. For more coverage of Ohio State in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, visit SB Nation Cleveland's STORYSTREAM. Click here for a link to our NCAA bracket 2012.

NCAA Printable Bracket 2012: Tracking Ohio State's Road To The Final Four

Want to take a look at Ohio State's road to the Final Four? Want to check out whether Cincinnati has a good draw to the Sweet 16? Want to see if Xavier and Ohio can spring some upsets? You'll want to check out SB Nation's printable NCAA bracket. You can find the printable bracket for the 2012 NCAA Tournament right here. For those who prefer doing their office pool online instead of on pen and paper, be sure to head over to Yahoo! and fill out a bracket here.

More NCAA Tournament resources:

West Region

East Region

Midwest Region

South Region

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For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.

March Madness Bracket 2012: Ohio St. Buckeyes Face Loyola (MD), Scouting Report On The Greyhounds

The Ohio St. Buckeyes earned a No. 2 in the East Region and will face the Loyola (MD) Greyhounds for their first game of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. We all know plenty about the talented Buckeyes, but very little is known about their opponents the small school from Maryland. Let's take a look at the Greyhounds and their 2011-2012 season.

Record: 24-8

Key Wins/Losses: The Greyhounds lost by 24 when they traveled to face the Kentucky Wildcats back in December. They fell to No. 14 seed Iona by 12, and lost to Wake Forest by 12 to begin their season.

Conference Standing From Regular Season: Loyola (MD) finished 2nd in the MAAC and won their conference tournament, knocking off Fairfield in the title game.

Top Players: They feature four scorers who average double-digits in points, and they are led by 6-foot-7 junior forward Erik Etherly who averaged 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds during the regular season. Sophomore guard Dylon Cormier averaged 13.4 PPG. Sharp-shooter Robert Olson hit 44% of his shots from behind the arc and averaged 11.2 points in 2011-2012.

For more on Ohio State, visit Along The Olentangy. For more coverage of Ohio State in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, visit SB Nation Cleveland's STORYSTREAM. Click here for a link to our NCAA bracket 2012.

NCAA Tournament 2012 Bracket Update: Ohio State Is No. 2 Seed, Will Face Loyola (MD) On Thursday

Ohio State earned a 2 seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament and will face Loyola (MD) in its first game.