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Aaron Craft (second from l.) joins Ohio State celebration as Buckeyes bounce Syracuse last weekend to set up meeting with Kansas in Final Four.
NEW ORLEANS The first thing everybody has got to do is stop referring to Saturdays national semifinal game between Kansas (31-6) and Ohio State (31-7) as if its the undercard game to Kentucky-Louisville. The second semifinal of the Final Four at the Superdome is going to put one of those teams a win away from a national championship.
With that done, its time to focus on what might be the most pivotal matchup in the game, the one between the point guards Kansas senior Tyshawn Taylor, out of Jersey Citys St. Anthony High, and Buckeyes sophomore Aaron Craft, who has one of the most compelling personal situations evolving during the tournament.
Surely many will look toward the battle of big men OSUs Jared Sullinger and the Jayhawks Thomas Robinson but the point guards will control much of the game.
My job is to dictate the way we play, said Taylor, who averages 16.7 points and 4.7 assists.
Im going to try to make anyone I am guarding uncomfortable, said Craft, who helped Ohio State beat Syracuse in the East Region final last Saturday in Boston while his brother, Brandon, was deployed to Afghanistan from his military base in Washington State. This far in, youre playing great guards. Sometimes theyll get by me. Sometimes, theyll make a shot. But they will know Ill be there the whole game.
Craft said he hadnt spoken with his brother since the team won in Boston, but that he posted something on his Facebook page. He doesnt know where he is in the Middle East, but added that hes not allowed to know.
I like to think Im fighting for something big (here), said Craft, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Obviously hes fighting for something bigger. I hope he can fee l safe over there. Hes been a great and awesome brother.
He said the show of support from teammates, classmates and friends has been tremendous. They understand there are bigger things in my life than basketball, he said.
Four years ago, Taylor was a heralded recruit from a state champion with five starters bound for strong Division I programs, but Kansas coach Bill Self said, We thought he was the best of them. All Taylor wanted to do was lead the team, but he couldnt get out of his own way. His play had been uneven until this season. There were also off-court issues: participating in a much-publicized 2009 fight between basketball and football players and then getting into an argument on Twitter with fans that led Self to order him off social media.
But its all come together since he came back from a minor knee surgery early in the season.
I stopped being indecisive on the court . . . opened it up as far as passing and cut down on my turnove rs, he said. I did not let the criticisms get to me.
Taylor will be hoping to find a three-point shot that has deserted him in the tournament. He made 42 before Selection Sunday and is 0-for-17 on threes since.
Asked about experience shooting in domed stadiums the teams Midwest Region wins were in the Edward Jones Dome he said, I have a lot of experience shooting them in domes, just not a lot of experience making them.
Craft has another plan for Taylor: Defense is what I hang my hat on its what I take great pride in.
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