Game Day Essentials: Game #23 vs Ohio St - 2/2/2013

Ohio State Info

Mascot: Buckeye (Brutus Buckeye)

School Location: Columbus, OH

Last game out: Beat Wisconsin

Coach: Thad Motta

Preseason B1G All Conference: Deshaun Thomas and Aaron Craft

Point Spread: Ohio St by 12

Probable Starters:

Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-11)

2-David Rivers - 6-7 -So. -F

15-Ray Gallegos - 6-2 -Jr.- G

24-Dylan Talley - 6-5 -Sr.- G

13-Brandon Ubel - 6-10 -Sr.- F

31-Shavon Shields -6-6 -Fr.- G/F

Ohio St Buckeyes (16-4)

Evan Ravenel, F 6-8 260 SR

Deshaun Thomas, F 6-7 225 JR

Aaron Craft, G 6-2 190 JR

Lenzelle Smith, Jr., G 6-4 205 JR

Sam Thompson, F 6-7 190 SO

Player to watch; Deshaun Thomas

Last game out, Thomas personally outscored the Huskers 18-17 in the first half of an eventual 70-44 blowout which represented the closest game Nebraska has played vs. Ohio State since joining the B1G. The entire defensive game plan for the Huskers needs to be attempting to contain Thomas and making his teammates beat you. He hasn't been held under double digits in scoring this year.

Can the Huskers play a competitive game against the Buckeyes?

After being manhandled by Minnesota at the Barn, the Huskers travel back home to Lincoln where they get to face a team that cleared out the Devaney last year with 12 minutes left in the game. Ohio St isn't as highly rated as Michigan or Indiana but at 6-2 in the conference they're still in the drivers seat to earn a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Ohio State goes about it's business through a combination of

• not playing down to people (they haven't lost to a team with a kenpom.com rating under 100 since 2008)
  
• stifling defense (have only give up 70 points four times this year)
  
• Complementing DeShaun Thomas' scoring ability
  

After being called out for a lackluster defensive effort in Minnesota and with a week until their next game, expect Nebraska to be ready for this game. Hope that Ohio St is distracted by their upcoming Tuesday game at #1 Michigan. While Ohio St is one of the best at turning the other team over, Nebraska is capable of holding onto the ball when they play in control. Can the Huskers figure out a way to keep this team off the offensive boards? If so, this game can be competitive.

While it's not exactly what we're shooting for, think of a moral victory tonight against Ohio St. which at this point would be a competitive game against one of the best teams in the country

Prediction: Ohio St 68 - Nebraska 54