Florida vs. Ohio State: Jared Sullinger Will Showcase POY Talent vs. Gators

With the NBA lockout showing no signs of ending, college basketball will have an opportunity to fill the void for basketball fans. One of the nation's top players, Jared Sullinger, will lead No. 3 Ohio State into an early season clash with No. 7 Florida on Tuesday.

Sullinger averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds during his freshman campaign. He opted on returning to Ohio State and is one of the early favorites to claim the Naismith College Player of the Year Award at season's end.

The 6'9'', 280-pound Columbus native tallied 19 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the Buckeyes' opener against Wright State.

Florida will provide a much stiffer test on the interior because of center Patric Young, who is a force in the paint. He'll likely shadow Sullinger all over the court and will provide more skill and length than anything Wright State threw at Ohio State's superstar.

When the two teams met last season, Sullinger scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while shooting 77 percent from the field. He'll need a similar performance to overcome an improving Florida squad this time around.

Despite Sullinger's talent, it won't be a one-man show.

The Gators have a couple players worth watching as well. Most notably guards Mike Rosario and Kenny Boynton, who combined to hit nine three-pointers against Jackson State on Friday.

There aren't many teams in the country with as much backcourt depth as Florida. Brad Beal and Erving Walker join Rosario and Boynton as consistent contributors that head coach Billy Donovan is expecting to carry the team.

Scheduling a tough non-conference foe early in the season is a good move for both teams. It will serve as a good measuring stick to check how much progress they made during the summer and, unlike college football, they don't have to worry about possible BCS implications.

Look for Sullinger to get enough help from William Buford and Co. to pull out a hard-fought victory. The game is on ESPN2, so it will also be interesting to see if the NBA lockout affects television ratings.