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| Sullinger's turn soon? |
Heading into their second showdown in three weeks, top-ranked Ohio State and No. 10 Wisconsin are saying too much was made of their first meeting and all the words and accusations that followed. Buckeyes coach Thad Matta is advising Ohio State fans to calm down and leave their animosity at home on Sunday. Ohio State is also the regular season outright Big Ten Champions. On to the teams:
First, the Badgers, ranked No. 13 at the time, came back from a 15-point deficit to end Ohio State's perfect season and knock the Buckeyes out of the top spot in the polls.
Then Buckeyes center Jared Sullinger alleged in a postgame message on Twitter that one of the Badgers faithful spit in his face as he was trying to escape the floor amid a mass of celebrating fans.
Later, Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan didn't make a whole lot of friends in Columbus when, in response to questions about the Sullinger incident, he said, "We won the game. Deal with it."
Matta says all of that ancillary stuff doesn't have much bearing on the rematch between the Badgers (23-6, 13-4 Big Ten) and Buckeyes (28-2, 15-2).
The game will be the last at Value City Arena for seniors Lauderdale, Lighty and
Jon Diebler, who tied the Big Ten record when he made 10 3-pointers in an 82-61 win over Penn State on Tuesday.
Lighty, a fifth-year senior, scoffed at the idea he might get too emotional. He was already thinking ahead to celebrating the Buckeyes' fourth Big Ten regular-season title in Matta's seven years.
Finally, The Buckeyes were breezing last time around until Wisconsin point guard Jordan Taylor suddenly started dialing in from long range. He scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half as the Badgers beat a No. 1-ranked opponent for the first time since 1962.
Now they can make it THREE times this academic year that they've knocked Ohio State out of the No. 1 spot; the football Buckeyes were unbeaten when they lost at No. 18 Wisconsin 31-18 on Oct. 16.
To avoid another loss to the Badgers, Ohio State must prevent Taylor from squeezing off shots while racing around ball screens on the perimeter.
