Buckeyes have lots coming back next year

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - In the doom and gloom of Friday night's 62-60 loss to Kentucky in the regional semifinals, there was a ray of sunshine for top-seeded Ohio State.

Three seniors from a sparkling season would be leaving, but the center of a lot of attention provided some good news.

Jared Sullinger, the national freshman of the year and a 6-foot-9 building block inside, said he was returning next season.

Coach Thad Matta was almost speechless after the defeat. But he had to be encouraged that Sullinger was coming back instead of becoming the fourth Ohio State big man in the last five years to jump to the NBA draft after one season.

Sullinger, junior shooting guard William Buford, and freshmen Aaron Craft, Deshaun Thomas and Jordan Sibert will make for a blockbuster core for the 2011-12 season.