PITTSBURGH - Two early fouls left Jared Sullinger saddled to the bench. A skilled Gonzaga team not only had a seven-point lead, but was surprisingly controlling the paint. An Ohio State team that admittedly -- and alarmingly -- was off its game in Thursday's NCAA tournament opener went deep into its usually-short bench for a freshman center who'd totaled five points in 22 minutes since Jan. 29.
That whole upset bug that got contagious around the NCAA tournament on Friday night? The Buckeyes looked shaky enough early in Saturday's game to be bitten by it next. Gonzaga had both really good players and momentum.
This was Ohio State's moment of truth.
Truth be told, the Buckeyes remain a bit of a mystery. What happened once the nerves settled and the coaching adjustments were made and point guard Aaron Craft temporarily became Superman is not only that Ohio State got the lead and kept it for good, but we saw every reason why this Ohio State team can still be good enough to win the whole thing.
There are reasons this run could end soon, too, but the Buckeyes have balance and confidence. When Saturday's game was over -- and despite the 73-66 final, the Buckeyes did not exhale until the final buzzer -- Ohio State coach Thad Matta graded his team's weekend in Pittsburgh as an "A" -- for advancement.
"We're playing in Boston next weekend," Matta said. "I think that's one of the big things. What is hard right now at this juncture of the season, now we have (played) six games in seven or eight days and we haven't had a ton of time to sit down and say, 'Hey, here's the things we've got to do better.'"
The Buckeyes live to see another day and get a chance to work on such things because Craft provided stability, the usual scorers eventually did their scoring and the Buckeyes got key defensive stops. Craft finished with 17 points and 10 assists, recording his first career double-double. Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas scored 18 apiece, William Buford got 13 and several key late rebounds and Lenzelle Smith Jr. hit a 3-pointer with just over five minutes left that extended the Buckeyes' lead to 5.
Craft's out of character scoring surge included his own personal 7-0 run and happened because Gonzaga dared him to score, and he made 4-of-5 shots in the first half when his team needed him most. Even when Sullinger was out, Gonzaga turned its defensive attention to Thomas and Buford and Craft took advantage. He's averaging 8.6 points per game for the year and hadn't scored more than 15 in a game since the calendar flipped to 2012.
Craft and Buford never left the floor. Thomas and Craft scored early, and Sullinger and Buford scored late. The Buckeyes had a little too much for Gonzaga.
"It ain't just Sullinger, I can tell you that," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "They've got some guys that can really make some shots."
No. 2 seeds are falling quickly in this tournament, and a young Ohio State team is still dealing with shadow of and the expectations created by last year's team that was the No. 1 overall seed. But Saturday's win showed the Buckeyes have a little flexibility and resilience to match their talent.
With Sullinger in that early foul trouble and Matta using a makeshift lineup, they erased that seven-point deficit to grab a two-point halftime lead, and Craft was directing through the entire run.
Craft is relentless. And fearless. And a 4.0 student.
Matta entrusts him to coordinate huddles during breaks in the action, get the Buckeyes into their halfcourt offense and to matchup like crazy on opposing guards. He shadowed both Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. at times Saturday as Bell Jr. got hot (18 points) and Pangos struggled, shooting 3-of-13 and finishing with just 10 points.
"There's a reason (Craft) is known as one of the best defenders," Pangos said.
Said Matta: "He's the best defender in college basketball."
Ohio State is able to spread the wealth but prone to going jumpshot happy and got stifled by Gonzaga's second-half switch to a zone defense. Bigger challenges are ahead, but the Buckeyes survived the first weekend and will advance to their third Sweet 16 in three years.
Lesser teams have ridden a hot-handed point guard deep into the bracket, and the more Craft scores the more dangerous Ohio State can become. What Ohio State proved Saturday is whatever caused that ill-timed clunker against Loyola-Maryland in the tournament opener is gone, and that leaving the point guard open isn't the wisest defensive strategy.
There are ways to envision beating Ohio State. Actually doing it against four guys as good anybody's top four in this tournament is another thing.
"We went toe to toe with a really good team," Few said. "It wouldn't surprise me if they are cutting down the nets in New Orleans. They're right at that level."
