Following his first career double-double on Friday, Patric Young had no problem pointing out college basketball’s top post player.
“Our next game is against the best center in the country: Jared Sullinger,” he said.
While Young took the humble route ahead of tonight’s clash at 8 between No. 7 Florida (1-0) and No. 3 Ohio State (1-0), his words served as a fair description when discussing the Buckeyes’ 6-foot-9, 280-pound big man.
After all, Sullinger powered through the Gators’ frontline for a game-high 26 points and 10 boards during Ohio State’s 93-75 win in Gainesville a year ago.
“I have a great deal of respect for [Sullinger] because he really understands the game,” UF coach Billy Donovan said. “Watching him reminds me of a throwback guy of a long, long time ago. You have guys that are really big and strong, but he understands how to use his size.”
In last season’s matchup, Sullinger and Young, both highly touted freshmen at the time, had an opportunity to showcase their skills to a national audience. Sullinger clearly took advantage of the spotlight and went on to have an All-America season while Young saw the court for just 12 minutes in the game.
“I just thought I could go in there and could compete against him, because I’ve done it in AAU before,” Young said. “I thought, ‘My time’s going to come when I get the chance to just play against this guy again, hopefully, one day.’”
Now, as UF’s focal point in the paint, the 6-foot-9, 247-pound Young does not have to worry about playing time Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. He will face the tall task of trying to slow down Sullinger with a different approach than departed seniors Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin used.
“The gameplan is to keep him off the boards, not let him get anything easy,” Young said. “He’s a good player. He’s going to score a few points here and there, but don’t let him get anything easy.”
Half of Sullinger’s rebounds in the previous matchup came on the offensive glass, and he was able to finish above the rim for an easy dunk seven times.
Rebounding has been a concern for Donovan through Florida’s exhibition and first regular-season game. With more depth at guard than in the post, he is expecting UF’s perimeter players to have a larger role.
“That will be a big factor in the game: our rebounding,” junior guard Kenny Boynton said. “Both teams will miss shots. ... Sometimes it’ll just be (Sullinger) and four other guys down there, and he comes down with the rebound.”
While the Buckeyes did lose three seniors, including 6-foot-5 swingman David Lighty, who also scored 26 points against the Gators, OSU returns a strong core in shooting guard William Buford and point guard Aaron Craft.
Like Florida’s Young, both are on the Naismith and Wooden Award Watch Lists for Player of the Year.
“We’re just going to try to contain (Sullinger) but let him have what he wants,” Boynton said. “But other than that, try to contain the other players and not let the other players have big games also.”
Contact John Boothe at jboothe@alligator.org.
Florida sophomore center Patric Young and Ohio State All-America forward Jared Sullinger will go head-to-head in tonight’s game.
