In spite of a slow start that surely had some Ohio State basketball fans flashing back to the last time these two teams met, Thad Matta's Ohio State basketball team found themselves at the most opportune time to push forward to a relatively easy win over 10th seeded Nebraska in their 2013 Big Ten Basketball Tournament opener Friday night.

Deshaun Thomas was his usual brilliant self from the offensive end (despite an early game benching for a lackadaisical effort on the defensive end), while also putting up a solid effort on the glass. Sam Thompson opened the game with a smooth 3 and continued it throughout the game en route to one of the best post season games of his career. LaQuinton Ross was the highlight of the Ohio State bench, providing a solid effort shooting the ball in spite of several turnovers.

Nebraska' Brandon Ubel and Shavon Shields were up to the task, but little else on the Nebraska offensive end were. Once the Buckeyes got their team defense righted, the overmatched Huskers had little hope of advancing. Ohio State next faces the winner of Michigan State and Iowa tomorrow afternoon, at roughly 4:05 p.m. EDT on CBS.