NCAA Tournament 2011: Will Ohio State Be the Next Top Seed to Lose Vs. Kentucky?

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No. 1 seed Ohio State vs No. 4 seed Kentucky

Region: East

Time: 9:45 PM (approximately)

Channel: CBS

Location: Newark, New Jersey

Game Announcers: Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg

When the No. 1 seed Ohio State Buckeyes tip off just before 10:00 PM, they could be the last top seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. That is, if No. 1 Kansas was to become the first ever top seed to lose to a No. 12 seed in 17 appearances when they take on Richmond in the first wave of Sweet 16 games tonight.

The Buckeyes will take on the No. 4 seed Kentucky Wildcats and look to move one step closer toward advancing to the Final Four in Houston. Kentucky is hoping to become the latest giant killer to knock off the No. 1 seeds, joining the Butler Bulldogs and Arizona Wildcats.

When the Buckeyes and Wildcats face each other, the spotlight will be on some of the top freshman in the country from this season. Ohio State features Naismith Award finalist Jared Sullinger, while Kentucky is led by Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones.

But while the rookies may get most of the ink and airtime, especially for the Wildcats, it is the veterans who continue to lead the way in the tournament, at least according to Matt Jones of CBS Sports.

Jones says of Kentucky that "In the place known for 'one and done', there has been a resurgence of the veteran’s movement in Lexington. The program that is now processing more elite talent than any college in America has seen its fortunes rise late in the season, in large part thanks to three old men by current Wildcat standards. Darius Miller, Deandre Liggins and Josh Harrellson are certainly not “one and dones”, and in fact, none of them are even John Calipari recruits. But they all three could be the most significant reasons that Kentucky has advanced to yet another Sweet 16."

The fact that it took them longer than anticipated is the reason that Calipari is coaching tonight and that Billy Gillespie go fired by Kentucky and finally hired by Texas Tech.

Timing truly is key.

Dana O'Neil of ESPN says that the difference in this game will be from outside.

O'Neil says to watch for "What happens on the perimeter. Both teams are pretty good from behind the arc. Ohio State leads the nation, knocking down 42.4 percent of its 3-point attempts.

Kentucky isn’t far behind. A year after the Wildcats were done in by their lack of perimeter game, they now rank 12th in the nation, draining 39.6 percent of their 3-point tries.

Sometimes basketball isn’t confusing. Whoever is able to make more from long range could have the upper hand."

One might say that a great way to attack the Buckeyes would be to try and get their top players in foul trouble and make them go to the bench early and often. That would be the 'Greg Oden approach' of the last time Ohio State was this dangerous.

You might want to try a different strategy.

O'Neil also points out that "Ohio State is 345th out of 345 teams in fewest fouls per game. The Buckeyes commit just 14 fouls per game. OSU has shot 348 more free throws than its opponents and has made 126 more than its opponents have attempted."

In the end, I feel that the Buckeyes are just the better overall team. Neither team makes many mistakes, but Ohio State has looked superb so far, while Kentucky was lucky to survive against Princeton, and was in a battle late against West Virginia. The Buckeyes will win this game and advance to play on Sunday.'

For the latest on tonight's game, make sure to check out Bleacher Report Contributor Trevor Lowry, who takes a look at the NCAA Bracket 2011: Previewing Kentucky Wildcats vs. Ohio State Buckeyes.

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