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For Ohio State fans frustrated with the direction of the team this year, consider Nebraska. Fresh off a breakthrough season where the Cornhuskers grabbed a top four seed in the Big Ten Tournament and made the NCAAs, Tim Miles' squad grabbed a preseason Top 25 ranking, and armed with Shavon Shields and Terran Petteway, the Cornhuskers looked to compete in the Big Ten again.
And then they lost to Rhode Island. And Hawaii. And something called an Incarnate Word. And then they kept losing.
Suddenly, Nebraska finds themselves with a 13-14 record and a five game losing streak, with their most recent loss to Iowa to embarrassing that Miles locked the team out of their locker room. Things are grim right now for Nebraska, especially with such high expectations this season, and especially on the road.
That might be just what the doctor ordered for Ohio State, who badly needs a win to get to 20 wins of their own, stop their skid, and solidify not just their Big Ten seeding, but a bid to the NCAAs themselves. Ohio State is in the tournament for now, but a loss to a bad Nebraska team, with Wisconsin and Purdue still to go? Then things could get a little dicey.
Can Marc Loving rebound back to form? Will other Buckeyes help Russell score? Join us here in the GameThread, and let's find out.
How to watch
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN and also broadcast on the radio at 97.1 FM.