Robinson vs Sullinger: College basketballs best go to war in the paint at Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday

*****Sullinger suffering from back spasms and will not play against Kansas

The two best NBA power forward prospects in the country, Thomas Robinson and Jared Sullinger, will face off at Allen Field House on Saturday when Kansas plays host to Ohio State.

Sullinger is averaging 19 pts and 10 reb but missed last game because of back spasms.  It sounds like the decision to sit Sullinger last game was more precautionary than anything.  Nobody has been able to deal with Sullinger in his college career this far.  He’s unstoppable in the post, has great hands, and cleans the glass…. but he will be in for probably the toughest head-up matchup of his career so far.

Thomas Robinson is an absolute beast.  17.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.  Robinson is the main option on offense for the Jayhawks.  KU doesn’t have many other options and it’s whole offense focuses on getting the ball inside to T-Rob.  He can step out and hit a mid-range jumper but that isn’t where Bill Self wants him with the ball.  He does the most damage just like Sullinger, when he’s in the paint, close to the basket.  The world is just finding out about how good Robinson is this season after he spent last year playing mop up minutes behind Markeif and Marcus Morris, who both went in the lottery.  I’ll take Robinson over either one of them.

Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas is one of the most intimidating, toughest places to play in the entire country.  No. 2 Ohio State sits at 8-0 and No. 13 Kansas is at 6-2 (with losses to Duke and Kentucky).  The Buckeyes are playing much better basketball at this point than Kansas.  KU will need good games out of guards Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson along with Robinson putting the clamps on Sullinger.  Gut feeling,  I think Ohio State could potentially take it’s first loss tomorrow because I don’t they will be ready to go into that atmosphere… but then again, there isn’t a team in the country playing better than Thad Mattas group right now

If Bill Self and company can get a win against Ohio State it will be huge for them.  They fell to UK and Duke and need the win for their confidence, if nothing else.  It’s time for Rock Chalk to jump in conversation.