Ohio State Buckeyes: Jared Sullinger Is a Better Player Than Greg Oden

Jared Sullinger is arguably the best player in college basketball. Many basketball experts tabbed Greg Oden with the same title during his tenure as a Buckeye.

Greg Oden has been unfairly judged as a NBA player, but during his lone season at Ohio State nobody could compare to Oden. Oden is a specimen who stands "7'0" tall and weighs about 270 pounds. Oden's game was based off potential more than results.

It may be too early to call freshman sensation Jared Sullinger the better player, but I do not think it is the wrong assumption.

Oden is by far the better athlete. Oden can run like a deer and jump out of the gym, but at the end of the day that does not provide points and rebounds.

Sullinger's skill set is mature beyond his years. Everyone knows that Sully can make a living playing like a mad man in the paint, but it is his other attributes that catch everyone's eyes. Coaches dream for a big man that has great hands, awareness, footwork and passing ability.

This past Saturday, Sullinger posted 27 points and 16 rebounds in 40 minutes of play against the Fighting Illini. The points and rebounds made headlines, but the stats that went unnoticed were the two fouls and zero turnovers. In 40 minutes of play it is hard to imagine that someone could go that long without making a mistake on the court. 

Double teaming Sullinger is nothing new to him. He has been fighting double and triple teams since his days at Monroe Middle School. He is one of a few big men that can actually pass out of the double team efficiently. Sullinger welcomes the double team, because he knows that he can get his teammates involved with his great passing ability.

Thus far, Sullinger has made a bigger impact on his team than Oden did in his first 20 games. Oden never released his full arsenal against opponents due to foul trouble issues or inconsistencies on the offensive end. Oden was more of a dominant force on the defensive end, but fouls would always plague him night in and night out.

Oden was great as a freshman, but it was based off of hype more than anything. During the NCAA tournament run, the Buckeyes were fueled by Mike Conley, Ron Lewis and heady play from Jamar Butler. In the biggest of games Oden was often found on the bench because of fouls.

The debate between Sullinger and Oden will end if Sullinger and the Buckeyes win the 2011 NCAA Championship.