Matt Barker took out some time from his site, BuckeyeBanter.com, to join us to take a closer look at the Buckeyes for Friday night’s game. He also asked us to preview the Saints and we were glad to oblige.

Siena Saints Blog: What’s been the factor crucial the Buckeyes success this year?

Matt Barker: I think one of the factors for the success that Ohio State has had this year is the emergence of the freshmen, and in particular, William Buford. You have to remember the Buckeyes’ most experienced player (and arguably the best going into this season), junior David Lighty, has been out since December with a broken bone in his foot. A healthy Lighty would have taken minutes away from Buford, who has really stepped up his game as of late.

Of course, the play of Evan Turner has been the most important factor this season. Just look at the last game, he had 22 points and 10 rebounds. He can pretty much do it all.

SSB: What’s the critical weakness Ohio State has shown all year?

Barker: If there has been one weakness, it’s the play at point guard. No one, including head coach Thad Matta, would have ever guessed that Mike Conley would be leave after his freshman year and become an NBA lottery pick. Had you asked me before the 2006-07 season when the Buckeyes advanced to the championship game, I thought he would stay on campus for three or four years. And when he signed his Letter of Intent, I assumed he was more or less a thrown in to get his best friend and high school teammate, Greg Oden, to come to Columbus.

With Conley’s departure, that meant former point guard Jamar Butler, moved back to the position and Matta had to scramble to look for a backup in the JUCO ranks. Then this year he added another point guard from a junior college, Jeremie Simmons, and recruited freshman Anthony Crater. Ten games into the season, Crater decides he’s not getting enough playing time and transfers to South Florida. That gave P.J. Hill an opportunity to play more and eventually he’s earned a spot in the starting lineup, getting better with each game, while Simmons has benefited from coming off the bench.

SSB: What match up will you be keeping a close eye on?

Barker: The question before every Ohio State game is: Will B.J. Mullens show up and play? If he leaves after his freshman year, he’s a lock to be first round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. You are not going to find too many 7-foot, 265-pound centers that can run the floor as well as he can in transition. When he gets his minutes, works hard to get open in the low post, and is fed the ball enough, Mullens can be a beast and he’s hard to stop. But will that happen? Last game against Purdue, he scored just three points and 12 minutes and he never seemed to have his head in the game.