BY DAVE HACKENBERG (Toledo Blade) — INDIANAPOLIS — William Buford had the Buckeyes’ backs Saturday, which is why Ohio State will play in the Big Ten tournament championship game Sunday for the third straight season.

He had David Lighty’s back and Aaron Craft’s back on defense when the two got in early foul trouble, and OSU needed somebody to lock up Tim Hardaway, Jr., of Michigan.

And he had Jared Sullinger’s back in the second half when things got a little more physical than Buford figured was appropriate.

Will doesn’t go looking for trouble, but he didn’t shy away from it on this occasion, and the Buckeyes responded with a surge of intensity that finished off a 16-0 run en route to a 68-61 win over Michigan at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Buford, the OSU junior from Toledo, said he has “never seen anybody get beat up like Sully. I can’t believe how well he handles it. He takes it so well night after night. Other teams are always messing with him, pounding on him, hacking him. He’s a nice kid, and I get a little tired of it. That thing today, that was kind of dirty.”

Ohio State had ripped off five straight points to open a 52-45 lead when Michigan’s Darius Morris missed a layup with 7:44 to play.

Sullinger went up for the rebound and got tied up with UM’s Jordan Morgan, who went to the floor, wrapped an arm around one of Sullinger’s legs, and didn’t seem inclined to disengage……

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