The No. 24 Ohio State Buckeyes (24-8, 10-8 Big Ten) were victorious yesterday over Purdue in a game that was far closer than anticipated, and now must take on a Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-11, 11-7 Big Ten) team that is desperate to improve its bid for the NCAA Tournament. Watch the game on ESPN or live stream it free here. Buckeyes fans can listen to the game on Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan, while Nebraska fans may find it on 1110 KFAB.
Nebraska finished their regular season by winning 11 of their final 14 games, and their head coach Tim Miles received Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. "I really thought if this team could get to .500 in the league, it would be a special accomplishment," said Miles. "For us to go 11-7 in this league, which is (ranked) one or two in the country, is really an amazing performance by our guys."
The 'Huskers are led by sophomore swingman Terran Petteway, who tops all Nebraska scorers with 18 points per game. "We were all kind of on our own agendas and didn't really know how to play with each other (at the beginning of the season)," Petteway said. That was before their big run to close out the year.
Now they loom as threats to Ohio State's run of dominance in Big Ten tourneys. "They're on a roll right now," coach Thad Matta said. "They are playing great basketball, and obviously Shields and Petteway are doing a good job. I think they're playing as well as anybody in the country right now."
Shavon Shields is another sophomore swingman who tops all Cornhuskers in rebounds, averaging 5.8 per game to go with 12.7 points.
In the first meeting between the two teams, Ohio State thrashed Nebraska 84-53, but shockingly lost the second time around on the Cornhuskers' home floor. This promises to be an entertaining rubber match.
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