Opening Tips: Florida vs. Ohio State

Erving Walker leads Florida into marquee nonconference showdown tomorrow night in Columbus against Ohio State. (Photo courtesy of New York Daily News)

The college basketball world may be buzzing over ESPN's 24-hour coverage, (which starts tonight when Gonzaga hosts Washington State from the McCartney Center in Spokane) but one of the highlight matchups comes later in the day in what could be a Final Four rematch four months from now.

Billy Donovan's Florida Gators return mostly everyone from last year's squad that advanced to the Elite Eight before being defeated by Butler, and welcomes former Rutgers standout Mike Rosario to the program as well. Their opponents are an Ohio State team that loses three starters from last year's top-ranked squad that was upset by Kentucky in the Sweet 16, but brings back arguably the best player in the nation to team with a lethal outside shooter and one of the best defenders in the country. The Gators. The Buckeyes. The preview on The Dose is next.

No. 8 Florida Gators (1-0)

Head Coach: Billy Donovan (16th season at UF, 361-147; 396-167 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:

G Erving Walker (5-8 Sr., 10.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 67% FG, 50% 3pt, 50% FT, 4.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)
G Kenny Boynton (6-2 Jr., 19.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 54% FG, 57% 3pt, 50% FT, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)

G Bradley Beal (6-3 Fr., 14.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 50% FG, 75% FT, 3.0 APG, 1.0 BPG, 1.0 SPG)
F Erik Murphy (6-10 Jr., 6.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 22% FG, 50% FT, 2.0 APG, 3.0 BPG)
C Patric Young (6-9 So., 12.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 75% FG, 3.0 APG, 2.0 BPG, 3.0 SPG)

Key Reserves:
G Mike Rosario (6-3 Jr., 19.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 58% FG, 63% 3pt, 2.0 APG, 2.0 SPG)

F Will Yeguete (6-7 So., 7.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 75% FG, 33% FT, 1.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)

G Scottie Wilbekin (6-2 So., 5.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 50% FG, 50% 3pt, 2.0 APG, 2.0 SPG)

Keys To Victory:

• Torch the nets.

As Steve Lavin once said last season when describing the hot shooting of former St. John's legend Dwight Hardy. In the Gators' 40-point thrashing of Jackson State, Florida relied on a 13-for-30 performance from beyond the arc to separate themselves early. Nine of the trifectas were drained by shooting guard Kenny Boynton and Rutgers transfer Mike Rosario, who has turned into a valuable X-factor as Billy Donovan's sixth man after serving as the face of the team for the Scarlet Knights in each of his first two seasons in Piscataway. Considering Ohio State was only able to hit five triples in their opener against Wright State; and given Florida has more options that can put it up, it would be best for the Gators to turn this contest into a shootout as fast as possible.

• Press inside.

Ohio State committed 14 turnovers in their season-opening victory, and seven of them were charged to Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas, who anchor the paint for the Buckeyes. Patric Young will likely draw Sullinger as a defensive matchup, with Will Yeguete likely seeing a lot of time off the bench to match up against the 6-7 Thomas, who is more an undersized power forward than he is a swingman. Florida could even use Erik Murphy early on to establish a frontcourt advantage against Sullinger.

• Establish a transition game.

In their season debut against Jackson State, Florida controlled the tempo with a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio, (20 to 10) plus-14 turnover margin, (causing 24 while only committing 10) and 12 steals. A large part of this is attributed to Billy Donovan's ability to play four guards at times, with Mike Rosario or Scottie Wilbekin coming off the bench to join Erving Walker, Kenny Boynton and freshman Bradley Beal in the backcourt. Since Ohio State is a more physical team; and because their reserve guards are less experienced than those of Florida, the pressure for Florida to turn this into a halfcourt affair grows even more, and it could determine the outcome.

Now, to profile what the Gators take the court against...

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)

Head Coach: Thad Matta (8th season at OSU, 191-57; 293-88 overall)

Projected Starting Lineup:

G Aaron Craft (6-2 So., 10.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 33% FG, 100% 3pt, 88% FT, 3.0 APG, 3.0 SPG)
G Lenzelle Smith Jr. (6-4 So., 8.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 50% FG, 67% 3pt, 1.0 APG, 2.0 SPG)
G William Buford (6-6 Sr., 13.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 50% FG, 33% 3pt, 100% FT, 4.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)
F Deshaun Thomas (6-7 So., 9.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 43% FG, 60% FT, 1.0 SPG)
F Jared Sullinger (6-9 So., 19.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 57% FG, 50% 3pt, 83% FT, 1.0 APG, 3.0 BPG, 1.0 SPG)

Key Reserves:

F Evan Ravenel (6-8 Jr., 2.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 100% FG)

Keys To Victory:

• To be the man...

...you "gotta beat the man," as legendary wrestler Ric Flair so often said in numerous interviews. Florida will be trying to beat "the man" inside the paint when they go up against this writer's choice for best player in the nation, 6-9 sophomore Jared Sullinger. Sullinger had an off night by his standards, with 19 points and nine rebounds against Wright State; and he will have his hands full with both Patric Young and Erik Murphy for the first few minutes until Billy Donovan brings his reserve guards into the game to play smaller and force the physically imposing Buckeyes into a halfcourt offense. Sullinger can still be effective in that premise, as he has been a surprisingly gifted outside shooter for his size. In order for Ohio State to fully take advantage of Florida's attempt to turn the game in their favor, Sullinger needs to draw fouls on the smaller Gator lineup, something he has had no problem doing in the past.

• Ensure the supporting cast steps up.

After Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State's inside game is still inexperienced for the most part now that Dallas Lauderdale has graduated. After Boston College transfer Evan Ravenel, freshmen Amir Williams and Trey McDonald are the next options. Rookie swingman Sam Thompson could also get involved, especially if Will Yeguete sees significant minutes at the wing for Florida. However, if Sullinger is double-teamed and fouls the Gators early, the Buckeyes could be digging themselves into an insurmountable hole. Throw in Florida's backcourt proficiency, and what looks like an evenly matched contest on paper could quickly turn into a runaway.

• Combo guards.

William Buford and Aaron Craft are more important now than ever for the Buckeyes with Jon Diebler and David Lighty no longer around. At 6-6, Buford has the height to get inside and wreak havoc while simultaneously changing the game with his deadly three-point shooting, while the 6-2 Craft has made a living as one of the better pure passers in the nation. Craft's proficiency as a facilitator does not necessarily diminish his ability to score, however, as he went for ten points in the opener against Wright State. A good majority of those came at the free throw line, though, so Craft will need to assert himself just a little more while running the show for Thad Matta.

So, Who Wins?

Even though both teams return most of the players who were on the court for Ohio State's 93-75 victory over the Gators in Gainesville last season, both squads are considerably different. This game was the coming-out party for Jared Sullinger a year ago, as he posted 26 points and 10 rebounds in just his second collegiate game on 13-of-17 shooting. William Buford was good for 16 points and eight assists, while Kenny Boynton drilled five three-pointers en route to a 21-point outing that led the Gators. This year, Ohio State is not as deep as they were twelve months prior; while the Gators have a stronger backcourt and a considerably stronger interior presence. This game is a prototypical "as one man goes, so too does the team" matchup, as Ohio State will go as far as Sullinger is willing to carry them. Buford and Craft are solid big game players; but their talent is overmatched by that of the Florida backcourt, and even their inside depth with Young, Murphy and Yeguete. It will be a battle throughout the night, but the edge goes to the Gators based solely on their extra pieces that Ohio State doesn't have.

Your Final: Florida 84, Ohio State 77