NCAA Scores: Aaron Craft Proves Why Ohio St. Buckeyes Are Legit Title Contenders

With 40 minutes of inspired basketball, Aaron Craft proved exactly why the Ohio State Buckeyes are as dangerous as any team in the country.

The sophomore point guard wreaked havoc against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, dominating the game on both ends of the floor.

He played his trademark in-your-face defense, using his strength and peskiness to annoy the hell out of Gonzaga's ball-handlers. Craft harassed Kevin Pangos all game long, holding the star freshman to 3-of-13 shooting.

However, his defensive effort wasn't what stood out on Saturday. The more impressive aspect was how he controlled the flow of the game offensively, orchestrating Ohio State's offense with masterful technique.

He aggressively attacked the rim, penetrating Gonzaga's defense with ease. Once Craft got into the lane, he was highly efficient, hitting all five of his shots in the paint.

His penetration also forced the Bulldogs' defense to collapse in from the three-point line, which freed up Ohio State's shooters. The Buckeye's knocked down nine three-pointers, seven of which came on assists from Craft.

He finished the game with 17 points and 10 dimes, while playing all 40 minutes. He directly contributed to 44 of Ohio State's 73 points, emphatically proving that the Buckeyes are so much more than Jared Sullinger and a bunch of scrubs.

While the All-American Sullinger struggled with foul trouble, Craft, Deshaun Thomas and William Buford picked up the slack. And when the big man returned late, he hit two clutch shots in the final three minutes to seal the win.

Ohio State may not receive a ton of attention like Kentucky and North Carolina, but they have every ingredient that a national championship team needs. They've got a great coach, a go-to big man, some strong wing scorers, and as we saw on Saturday, a damn good point guard.

Sullinger is the best player on the team, but Ohio State lives and dies with Aaron Craft. If the sophomore maintains his high level of play, nobody will be able to stop the Buckeyes.