No. 1 Buckeyes a big challenge for Illini

When Ohio State shows up at Assembly Hall on Saturday, it’ll be just the second visit from a top-ranked team in the last 32 seasons.

It’ll also be the first chance for any current Illinois player to face a No. 1 squad.

No wonder senior point guard Demetri McCamey couldn’t wait to return to the practice gym Thursday to start prepping for the unbeaten Buckeyes.

“It’s going to hit us when we start practice,” McCamey said after Tuesday’s win over No. 17 Michigan State. “Coach Weber and (the other coaches) are going to be yelling and everything’s going to be real intense.

“It’s a good challenge for us. I think once we get challenges and have to face them, we show up more than anything.”

In general, that hasn’t been the case at Illinois during the Associated Press’ 62 years of national polling.

Though the Illini won their most recent game against a top-ranked foe (the 91-73 wipeout of Wake Forest on Dec. 1, 2004), the school stands 2-19 all-time when facing No. 1.

Ohio State (19-0, 6-0) moved into the top spot Monday for the school’s first appearance there since the end of the 2006-07 season.

Freshman center Greg Oden led those Buckeyes to that lofty position — though coach Thad Matta said Thursday that Oden was never 100 percent during that season — while freshman center Jared Sullinger has been even better while leading this group to the top.

The 6-foot-9, 270-pound Sullinger averages 17.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 58 percent from the floor as the perfect complement to OSU’s long-range shooters.

When the Buckeyes needed baskets late to hold off Penn State and Minnesota earlier this month, they spread the floor and flipped the ball to Sullinger in the post where he couldn’t be double-teamed without fear of him flipping the ball back out for open 3-pointers.

“It really makes a difference in what we’re trying to do offensively,” said Matta, who didn’t have a post threat on last year’s Big Ten co-champs. “It’s encouraging when you can throw it down there and some good things can happen, via a great shot or foul or whatever it is.

“Jared has done a tremendous job of just continuing to grow as a freshman and continuing to grow every time he takes the floor.”

Illinois, as its fans are painfully aware, doesn’t have a player with the size to match Sullinger.

Senior center Mike Tisdale will start on Sullinger, but senior power forward Mike Davis and freshman backup center Meyers Leonard also will get their chances.

“It’s a huge game,” Davis said. “Our goal from the beginning of the season was to go undefeated at home. Saturday’s a big challenge in front of us. It starts with the seniors.”

Then Davis pointed to freshman Jereme Richmond and sophomore Brandon Paul — who combined for 34 points in Tuesday’s win — sitting next to him.

“These two guys right now got to help us take down this monster on Saturday,” Davis said.