Ohio State

Wisconsin doesn't need help winning Big Ten Conference championships, but it sure keeps getting it. The combination of realignment and corruption within the ranks has beautifully positioned the Badgers for a third consecutive Rose Bowl run. Sometimes, Bucky, you need to be lucky, good and placed in the Leaders Division. To get to the Big Ten title game this season, Wisconsin really only needs to win the Big Four. FOR THE RECORD: An earlier version of this column stated Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson transferred from North Carolina.

A good coach can go a long way in this business. Last year, for example, Brady Hoke went all the way from San Diego to Michigan to turn the Wolverines back into winners. Anyone who thinks Nick Saban wasn't worth the Brink's truck Alabama backed up for him probably has a stake in Shula's Steakhouse. Those were a couple of hits. And then, there are misses: Mike Price to Alabama sparks a five-alarm memory, followed by George O'Leary to Notre Dame, Howard Schnellenberger to Oklahoma, John Mackovic to Arizona, Tom Holmoe to California, Bill Callahan to Nebraska and Bobby Petrino to Arkansas (read: The Motorcycle Diaries)

CINCINNATI - President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney dueled Thursday from opposite ends of a state vital to their November chances, framing the election as a choice between failure and economic progress - and differing sharply on who was to blame for years of disappointing job growth. The two had been scheduled to speak simultaneously, but Romney pushed up his speech at a Cincinnati manufacturing plant to get a jump on Obama. He said the president had had 31/2 years to spur recovery after the economy tanked in 2008 and had little to show and not much to offer beyond high-flown rhetoric.

NEW ORLEANS -- Saturday's first Final Four game had all the hype, but the second game stole the night. Ohio State and Kansas was billed as the second-fiddle showdown of second-seeded schools in the second game of the NCAA tournament's double-header. The teams, though, certainly didn't take a back bench. As jubilant Kentucky fans watched to scout Monday's opponent, Kansas rallied to defeat Ohio State, 64-62, before a thoroughly entertained Superdome crowd of 73,361.

Here's how Kansas and Ohio State match up in one of the Final Four games Saturday in New Orleans. SCOUTING REPORT: Ohio State's 78-67 loss at Kansas on Dec. 10 comes with a huge asterisk because the Buckeyes' best player, Jared Sullinger, missed the game due to back spasms. Sullinger has made 27 free throws in four NCAA tournament games, the most of any player in the field.  Sullinger's inside matchup with Kansas' Thomas Robinson may require...

NEW ORLEANS — Folks on Bourbon Street and other rues are saying this might be the best Final Two in NCAA history. "All four teams here are great," Ohio State guard Aaron Craft said Friday. Oh yeah — four. But you wouldn't know it based on the buildup for Saturday's NCAA semifinal between Kentucky and Louisville. "I would say this is probably the most amped-up Final Four game in college basketball history," Louisville guard Peyton Siva said. Few big games in history — OK, no big game in history — has been preceded by rival fans getting in a fight while awaiting dialysis treatment.

Kansas starters Pos., Player, Ht, Wt , Stats F Thomas Robinson, 6-10, 237, 17.7 ppg C Jeff Withey, 7-0, 235, 6.2 rpg G Tyshawn Taylor, 6-3, 185, 17.3 ppg G Travis Releford, 6-6, 210, 8.5 rpg G Elijah Johnson, 6-4, 195, 9.6 ppg Kansas reserves G Conner Teahan, 6-6, 212, 5.9 ppg F Kevin Young, 6-8, 195, 3.6 ppg Ohio State starters Pos., Player, Ht., Wt., Stats ...

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson , who played through personal tragedy as a sophomore reserve, capped his junior season by being a unanimous selection to the Associated Press' All-America team Monday, a day after leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four. The 6-foot-10 Robinson averaged 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds this season and he was a first-team pick by all 65 members of the national media panel that selects the weekly top 25. Joining Robinson on the first team were Jared Sullinger of Ohio State, the first repeat All-American in three years, freshman Anthony Davis of Kentucky, Draymond Green of Michigan State and Doug McDermott of Creighton.

Next weekend's Final Four in New Orleans has everything except something to hug. There are no lovable nicknames, or coaches named Shaka, or teams left in the field that play in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler is the past's blast, Virginia Commonwealth has deferred to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and all the 11th-seeded teams have gone home for the harvest. This is a members' only racket. Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State and Kansas are all basketball bullies who like to steal your lunch money.

EAST REGION No. 1 Syracuse (34-2) vs. No. 2 Ohio State (30-7), 3:45 p.m., Channel 2: Wisconsin hit 14 three-pointers but still lost to Syracuse on Thursday night. It's hard to see Ohio State being that hot from beyond the arc, but the Buckeyes also have a much better frontcourt than the Badgers. The key guy for Ohio State is going to be point guard Aaron Craft, not necessarily because of his shooting but with his ability to probe the Orange's defense. Syracuse has received big-time bench production in the tournament, and solid games from guard Dion Waiters and forward James Southerland would go a long way toward helping Syracuse win this.