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Oden, Ohio State primed to make Final Four run

Mar 15, 2007 - 2:03 PM Central Conn (22-11) at Ohio St (30-3) 7:10 pm EDT

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Ticker) -- Freshman standout Greg Oden will get his first taste of the NCAA Tournament.

As one of the most talented newcomers in college basketball in recent years, Oden and South Region top seed Ohio State will take on 16th-seeded Central Connecticut State on Thursday in a first-round game.

Despite an injured right wrist that required surgery in the preseason, Oden has sparked the defense for the Buckeyes, who enter with an impressive 17-game winning streak and a Big Ten Conference regular-season and tournament title.

The 7-foot Oden became the fourth player in school history to be named conference Freshman of the Year, joining Jim Jackson (1990), Greg Simpson (1993) and Michael Redd (1998).

Coach Thad Matta has guided Ohio State to back-to-back trips to the tournament for the first time since the school made three appearances in a row 1990-92.

Along with Oden, fellow freshman Mike Conley Jr. had also been a major addition to the lineup this season, becoming the first player in program history to have reached 200 assists.

The Blue Devils are making their third trip to the NCAA Tournament under coach Howie Dickenman - losses in 2000 and 2002 - after winning the Northeast Conference tournament.

Conference Player of the Year Javier Mojica and co-Defensive Player of the Year Tristan Blackwood helped Central Connecticut State finish with a 16-2 league mark - third best in school history.