Rick Reilly Asks Aaron Craft Why He’s so ‘Annoying,’ Craft Trolls Back
He’s just throwing it out there. If you don’t like it, just throw it on back. ESPN reporter Rick Reilly knifed through the veil of civility at Wednesday’s post-practice press conference with the…
Defensive stoppers Craft & Johnson to meet in West Region
Ohio State’s Aaron Craft and Arizona’s Nick Johnson are among the rarest type of college basketball players. They’re defensive stoppers – and they’ll be on the same court together Thursday night. That’s when Craft and the Buckeyes meet Johnson and the Wildcats in the NCAA tournament’s West Region semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Craft’s game is more on the floor, where his quick feet and superb anticipation lead to steals and 5-second violations by opposing guards. Johnson’s game is a more high-flying, his athleticism allowing him to jump into passing lanes and soar in from behind to swat away shots from unsuspecting shooters. It should be quite a show within what should be one of the best games of the NCAA’s second week.
Ohio State’s 5 Keys to Beating Arizona in Sweet 16
Jason Miller/Getty Images Aaron Craft and the Ohio State basketball team may have had the defining moment of the NCAA tournament’s opening weekend that didn’t involve a team from the Gulf Coast of…
Aaron Craft’s Shot Stuns Iowa State, Powers Ohio State onto NCAA Title Shortlist
Aaron Craft took the shot that every basketball player dreams of growing up and sent his Ohio State Buckeyes to the Sweet 16 in the process. What’s more, he proved to the country…
Aaron Craft and the Buckeyes Sink Iowa State with Buzzer Beater in Round of 32
Aaron Craft meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The Buckeyes floor general missed free throws, turned it over and committed a costly foul down the stretch of the game against No. 10 seed…
Ohio State Basketball: Aaron Craft Must Continue Scoring More for Buckeyes
An easy criticism to level at the AP No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes is their lack of balanced scoring production. As Saturday’s 61-58 victory over Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament semifinal…
Podcast: Aaron Craft on ‘SVP & Russillo’
Ohio State guard Aaron Craft chats about his big game against Michigan State, his defensive intensity, the value of being one of the most experienced players in the Big Ten and the difficulty of playing in such a competitive conference. Listen here
Ohio State Basketball: 10 Lessons Learned in Win over Michigan State
With less than 18 minutes remaining in Sunday’s game against Michigan State, it looked like the “Ohio State struggles against ranked teams” narrative was about to pick up more corroborating evidence. The Spartans led by nine, Deshaun Thomas was ice cold and the home crowd had been silenced. And that’s when Aaron Craft decided to kick it into fifth gear. The Buckeyes point guard willed his team to a 68-60 victory with what may have been the best half of basketball he has played in his career. It was something of poetic justice because Craft, much like the entire Ohio State squad, had fallen short of lofty expectations (offensively) and was looking for a measure of redemption on a big stage. Here are 10 lessons to take away from the win over Michigan State. Begin Slideshow
Dual-threat Craft changes Buckeyes
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The rosy-cheeked aggression is nothing new. The difference was where Aaron Craft was channeling that famous energy. The Ohio State junior has built his reputation largely on the strength of his relentless, pesky approach on defense. Michigan State can once again attest that nothing has changed on that end of the floor. But in something of a surprise to the No. 4 Spartans, Craft went after the rim and the lane the same way he normally would a ball-handler.
Ohio State on upswing after beating Michigan State (The SportsXchange)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A week ago, Ohio State was in the midst getting run off the floor at Wisconsin and wondering what was happening to its season after losing three of four games. Now the 18th-ranked Buckeyes have run off two straight victories, the latest an impressive 68-60 win over fourth-ranked Michigan State at Value City Arena on Sunday. Aaron Craft scored career-high 21 points and handed out six assists for Ohio State (20-7, 10-5 Big Ten). He helped spark a 24-5 run in the second half that turned a nine-point deficit into a 10-point lead. “Give Aaron Craft a lot of credit,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “In the second half, he tore us up. He beat us every way you can beat us. It was a joint effort, it wasn’t just one guy (who couldn’t guard him).” After Adreian Payne had put Michigan State ahead 36-27 with a jumper early in…
