Top-ranked Buckeyes not feeling vengeful

Associated Press

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Heading into their second showdown in three weeks, top-ranked Ohio State and No. 10 Wisconsin are saying too much was made of their first meeting and all the words and accusations that followed.

Buckeyes coach Thad Matta is advising Ohio State fans to calm down and leave their animosity at home today.

“Honestly, we’re probably making a little bit more of that than there really was,” he said of the fallout from Wisconsin’s 71-67 victory on Feb. 12.

While Matta tries to calm the situation, others at Ohio State are sending another message. Either way, it’s unlikely that most Ohio State fans will either forgive or forget. In their minds, the Buckeyes were insulted and mistreated in the game at Kohl Center.

First, the Badgers, ranked No. 13 at the time, came back from a 15-point deficit to end Ohio State’s perfect season and knock the Buckeyes out of the top spot in the polls.

Then Buckeyes center Jared Sullinger alleged in a postgame message on Twitter that one of the Badgers faithful spit in his face as he was trying to escape the floor amid a mass of celebrating fans.

Later, Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan didn’t make a whole lot of friends in Columbus when, in response to questions about the Sullinger incident, he said, “We won the game. Deal with it.”

Matta says all of that ancillary stuff doesn’t have much bearing on the rematch between the Badgers (23-6, 13-4 Big Ten) and Buckeyes (28-2, 15-2).

“None whatsoever,” he said Saturday.

Matta said Ryan tried to call him the day after the first meeting — he took it that a gracious Ryan wanted to clear the air — but the coaches never ended up speaking. They remain on good terms.

Matta said the rematch was no more special than any other date on Ohio State’s schedule.

The Buckeyes clinched an outright Big Ten title and the No. 1 seed in next week’s conference tournament when No. 6 Purdue was upset at Iowa on Saturday, 67-65.

“This is game 31 and obviously we’re playing a great opponent,” Matta said.

If Ohio State’s players are angry, they’re certainly not showing it.

Asked if this game will have a different tone because of what happened in the first meeting, David Lighty disagreed.

“No, not at all. We’ve been through those things before,” he said.