Against Florida State, Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger is looking to raise the level of his play once again.
View full sizeOhio State's Jared Sullinger (left) has seen his production drop after a breakout game earlier this month against Florida. He's looking for another big night Tuesday as the Buckeyes play Florida State.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State basketball is back in the state of Florida Tuesday night and back in the spotlight. Maybe freshman big man Jared Sullinger will get back to playing his best.
After rising to No. 2 in the polls, the test for Ohio State (5-0) is at 5-1 Florida State in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, while 10 days ago the game was at No. 9 Florida. In that game, his second as a college player, Sullinger broke out with 26 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes in a 93-75 win that had the college basketball world talking.
In his three games since then, Sullinger has averaged 10 points and six rebounds in 27 minutes, as the Buckeyes beat UNC-Wilmington, Morehead State and Miami (Ohio) by an average of 27 points.
The challenge wasn't the same, and neither was Sullinger.
"Sometimes as a freshman, you come out and you walk out there and think, 'I'll do the same thing I did the last game,'" Sullinger said Monday, admitting that the lower level of competition has affected his level of play.
There's another thing, too. After what he did to the Gators, opponents are game-planning for Sullinger. They want to take him outside on defense and get him out of the lane, then get multiple players on him on the offensive end when a shot goes up.
"It's been a lot different, actually," Sullinger said. "It's obvious that sometimes the focal point is keeping me off the offensive boards, and it's kind of tough because normally it's two people boxing me out instead of one, so I can't really be as effective as I want to."
Sullinger, then, is in the adjustment-to-the-adjustment phase of his career, just five games in.
"Coach [Thad] Matta told me, 'The first couple games you'll get what you want, and later on down the season, it's going to be tough.' And I see what he means now," Sullinger said. "I've just got to be active, like [senior teammate David] Lighty told me. If you're active, people get tired, especially with me being so big."
Against Florida State's Chris Singleton, who is 6-foot-9 and averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds per game, Sullinger has plenty to get up for.
"There's a learning curve there," Matta said. "In high school a lot of times you can show up and be 60 or 70 percent and still get 20 points and eight rebounds. Now everybody is on scholarship and everyone wants to win and everybody is a little bit more athletic."
BIG TEN-ACC CHALLENGE
The Big Ten won the Big Ten-ACC Challenge for the first time in 11 tries last season, and though the Big Ten is better top to bottom again this year, the matchups may not work out for a repeat title.
Monday
Virginia 87, No. 15 Minnesota 79
Tuesday
Iowa at Wake Forest, 7, ESPNU: Pick: Wake Forest. Demon Deacons have started slow, so should be tight.
Georgia Tech at Northwestern, 7, ESPN2: Pick: Northwestern. Win would help Wildcats show they are serious about NCAA Tournament.
No. 2 Ohio State at Florida State, 7:30, ESPN: Pick: Ohio State. Buckeyes will be up for another good road test.
Michigan at Clemson, 9, ESPN2: Pick: Clemson. Young Wolverines still too raw.
North Carolina at No. 20 Illinois, 9:30, ESPN: Pick: Illinois. The Illini have vets, young Tar Heels have been disappointing.
WEDNESDAY
Indiana at Boston College, 7:15, ESPNU: Pick: Boston College. At 6-0, Hoosiers haven't been tested yet.
North Carolina State at Wisconsin, 7:15 ESPN2: Pick: Wisconsin. Badgers have lost twice but are so tough at home.
No. 22 Purdue at Virginia Tech, 7:30, ESPN: Pick: Virginia Tech. Hokies have been tested more, off loss to Richmond the Boilermakers are upset again.
Maryland at Penn State, 9:15, ESPN2: Pick: Maryland. Terps have hung tough in losses to two ranked teams.
No. 6 Michigan State at No. 1 Duke, 9:30, ESPN: Pick: Duke. Spartans will put up fight, Duke just too tough at home.
-- Doug Lesmerises