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Final Four Previews: Sully vs. T-Rob a clash in the post

Amir Williams, Thomas Robinson

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson (0) drives to the basket past Ohio State center Amir Williams (23) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011. Kansas defeated Ohio State 78-67. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

AP

Back on December 10th, then-No. 2 Ohio State heading into Lawrence to take on then-No. 13 Kansas, pitting arguably the two-best low-post scorers in the country in Jared Sullinger and Thomas Robinson up against one another, was supposed to be the highlight of a solid slate of college basketball.

Alas, the battle we all had hoped for wasn’t in the cards as Sullinger’s balky back kept him out of the lineup. Fortunately for Sullinger, this storyline was quickly forgotten as the college basketball world was taken over a scuffle you might have heard about and a buzzer-beater you may have seen replayed a time or two.

The good news is that the battle we missed will be seen on a much bigger stage this weekend in New Orleans.

The only thing that remains to be seen is just how much time those two will spend matched up against one another, because while both rely heavily on their strength on the block, they have very different back-to-the-basket games.

Sullinger’s offensive game starts with his ability to establish position. He’s got the hindquarters of a Kentucky Derby champion and he knows how to use it to create space. Combine that strength and that size with his low-center of gravity, and it is borderline impossible to move Sullinger once he seals off a defender in the paint.

But that is where Sullinger’s reliance on his physical tools ends. He is a very skilled and fluid scorer on the block. He has terrific footwork, a litany of moves in his arsenal and a soft touch around the rim. You’ll probably see him bank in a jump hook from about 10-12 feet at some point during this Final Four. Trust me, he called it. And don’t be surprised when he steps out and knocks down a three. He only attempted 38 this season, but he is shooting 42.1% from deep.

Robinson is similar in that he is just as good as establishing position on the block, but that is pretty much where the similarities in their post game end. Robinson is a physical specimen. His body looks like the mold of an action figure doll and he is as athletic and explosive as anyone at the power forward spot in the country. It’s rare to find that combination anywhere, let alone at the collegiate level; he overpowers defenders that are lankier and athletic but he simply jumps over the big men that can match up with his strength level.

The issue is that Robinson, right now, is not the most skilled post scorer. His back-to-the-basket game is developing and he has shown promise with his jump hooks and turn-arounds, but right now most of his damage is done through the sheer power of his game. Fluidity is not yet a strength.

The irony with that last statement is that Robinson is actually fairly dangerous as a face-up option. He handles the ball well for his size, which, when combined with his quick first step, means that he is able to get to the rim off of the dribble.

So who wins out? Who is the more effective post scorer?

Here’s to hoping that Bill Self and Thad Matta allow us 40 minutes to find out on Saturday.