BROOKLYN, N. Y. — Kentucky's Alex Poythress spun around Ohio State's Jae'Sean Tate early in Saturday's game at Barclays Center and had a clear look at the basket for an easy layup.
Trevor Thompson, the Buckeyes' starting center, had other ideas.
Thompson goose-stepped across the lane from the weak side, leaving his man unattended. He then elevated and sent Poythress' sure-fire two-point basket into orbit.
It was symbolic of what was to come.
Thompson played his best game in an Ohio State uniform in the Buckeyes' 74-67 stunner over the fourth-ranked Wildcats. The Virginia Tech transfer scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked five shots.
“Trevor played a phenomenal game," junior forward Marc Loving said. "He was blocking shots, he was protecting the basket and that’s really what we need from him. I can see Trevor playing like this from here on out.”
Thompson wasn't alone. His tag-team partner in the middle, freshman big man Daniel Giddens, was equally effective.
Giddens' numbers weren't as impressive as Thompson's — he had six points and three rebounds — but he made the biggest play of the game when he dove on the floor for a loose ball with three minutes to play and Ohio State clinging to a three-point lead.
Giddens kicked the ball ahead to Kam Williams, who was then intentionally fouled by Kentucky's Tyler Ulis. Williams made both free throws and the Wildcats never recovered.
"I love to see our guys play how they did today with that energy. Daniel was laid out like Superman trying to get that ball," Ohio State head coach Thad Matta said. "[Trevor] and Daniel, I thought, were both dynamic together."
Ohio State's pair of bigs played their best in the Buckeyes' biggest game to date. If that's any sort of sign going forward for this season and beyond, Ohio State's front court is in good shape.
