Final Four: This Time, Sullinger Will Play NEW ORLEANS - As Kansas and Ohio State prepare to meet for the second time this season, they are constantly reminded about their earlier encounter. Kansas won that first meeting, at home, fairly easily. The score was 78-67, advantage Jayhawks, last Dec. 10. No one from either team ventured to read much into that game this week, if at all. Kansas has improved since then. So has Ohio State. The Buckeyes" star center, Jared Sullinger, did not play against Kansas. On Friday, he said he was so stiff, suffering from back spasms, he could barely move. "I would have hurt the basketball team if I'd have played in December," Sullinger said Friday. They would have just attacked me all day on ball screens, or in the post, because I was just tippy-toeing. It was a smart decision. As the teams prepare for the rematch, guard Aaron Craft said the worst thing Ohio State can do is anticipate that Sullinger will be "the quick solution to the game, him being able to fix everything, and we'll be O.K." The danger lies in believing they absolutely, easily, would have won without him. That would diminish the talents evident at Kansas. In December, Ohio State saw three players, including Craft, score in double figures. The Buckeyes were outrebounded, but only slightly. Forward Deshaun Thomas scored 19 points down low. Ohio State's demise seemed to come as much from 15 turnovers and a 38.7 percent shooting percentage as it did from Sullinger not playing. Of course, Sullinger's impact is undeniable. He crushed Syracuse in the regional final to advance here. His December absence, Coach Thad Matta noted, meant "you didn't have 18 points and 10 rebounds you could count on." Still, Matta believes that playing without Sullinger ultimately helped Ohio State. "Us having Jared, he obviously makes us a better basketball team," Matta said. It was unfortunate that he didn't get to play in the game in December. By the same token, that probably helped us in the long run that he wasn't out there.