Ohio State Basketball: Final Four Bound

When Ohio State signed this incredible freshman class, no one really knew what to expect. Obviously, the Buckeyes would be talented, but would they have enough experience to really go far in the tournament? How would the new freshmen mesh with the upperclassman? How much of an impact would Greg Oden have after his wrist injury? As Bob Hunter discusses in his column in the Dispatch today, with the win over Memphis on Saturday, this Ohio State team has fully lived up to the hype, and it will be remembered for a long time.

Throughout the season, the Buckeyes have been building up to this point, when everyone on the team has a role and everyone plays that role to perfection. Oden is a dominant presence inside, but he is probably not even the team's MVP. His high school teammate Mike Conley has been amazing all year, and the Buckeyes would be lost without him. In addition to those two, Ron Lewis has really found his game lately and he always seems to step up big in crunch time. Jamar Butler is a good ballhandler and a three point gunner from the outside. Ivan Harris can come off the bench at any moment and nail some long shots. David Lighty is a defensive stopper with athleticism who can step up on offense. Daequan Cook can shoot the ball from inside or outside, even though he's been cold lately. Hell, even Matt Teriwilliger has came up with some big free throws and offensive rebounds in the Tennesee game.

No matter what happens in the Final Four this weekend, this Ohio State team will be remembered for a long time. Players who contributed to the tournament will be beloved by Ohio State fans for the rest of their lives. Ron Lewis will still be getting thanked by random people on the street for hitting his three pointer to send the Xavier game to overtime when he is 50 years old. While I think this is only the beginning for Ohio State as a basketball powerhouse, this team will always be thought of fondly by anyone who followed them this season. And if the Buckeyes can bring home the national title, especially if they get revenge on Florida in the process, they may even be able to steal away some of the spotlight from the football team.