Call it an edge. Call it an identity. Call it an intensity. Call it whatever word or cliché you prefer. For a while in Wednesday's game against Syracuse, Ohio State seemed to have it.
In the first minute of the game, Kyle Young rose up to jam an alley-oop. Kaleb Wesson followed that up with a jumper, then C.J. Jackson hit a 3-pointer to give the Buckeyes a 9-2 lead. Luther Muhammad hit another triple the next time down the court. Ohio State's lead extended to 16-9 seven minutes into the game, but that's as far as the Buckeyes could push it.