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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.

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.