If memory serves me, I've probably seen less than five Ohio State men's basketball games in person.

The ones I have seen haven't been much to talk about. Here's hoping Saturday is different.

A college friend landed two tickets to Saturday's Kansas at Ohio State game. It's a rematch of one of last season's Final Four games, and both teams haven't missed a beat so far this season. The Buckeyes and Jayhawks are ranked in the top 10 this week.

I'm interested the buzz this game will generate. The Schottenstein Center in Columbus has been criticized for being too cavernous, but that seems to be changing. Efforts to bring students closer to the floor has helped make gameday more raucous, at least from a TV viewer's perspective. How it plays out watching from the stands could be something entirely different.

As for the Buckeyes men's basketball program, it's firmly in place as a perennial top 10 program with two Final Four appearances since 2007, but this year feels different. Without a marquee player on the roster such as Jared Sullinger, now with the Celtics, the buzz for the team outside of Columbus seems lacking. That's strange since DeShaun Thomas looks like a legit All-American candidate. Point guard Aaron Craft is as steady as they come.   

If this game were the equivalent of a non-conference college football game, the excitement level across the state would be incredible. The bottom line: it's not March, so the Madness is still months away.

Still, Saturday at The Schott should be fun.

- Mark Podolski | @MPodo