sportsjabber.net

How they lost: This was the first game all season that Ohio State was matched in athleticism and size. The difference in the game was Kentucky big man John Harrellson, who finished the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds. He was the one of the few defenders who could match Sullinger’s strength, and for the first half it was Harrellson who got the better of the matchup.

Harrellson made his present felt early on, blocking Sullinger, grabbing two rebounds and scoring the Wildcats first two field goals, including an emphatic dunk. The domination continued throughout the half, and for the first time Sullinger looked to have met his match.

At the end of the first half, with both teams tied up, Harrellson had 12 points to Sullinger’s 10, and both had seven rebounds. Charles Barkley said it best at halftime, saying the Wildcats made a choice heading into the game to either double down on Sullinger or play straight up in order to defend the outside shooters.

The Wildcats chose the latter, which worked better than it could have expected. Not only were the outside shooters of Ohio State being contained, Sullinger was being outscored by Kentucky’s big man. If Sullinger sees single coverage and doesn’t take advantage, the Buckeyes knew it was going to be in a for a long night.

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