When Deshaun Thomas is on his game, Ohio State is usually tough to beat.
Nebraska knows that all too well.
Coming off one of the strongest performances of his career, the star forward looks to lead the No. 11 Buckeyes to a fourth consecutive victory Saturday night as they visit a Nebraska team he outscored by himself in the first half of their meeting exactly one month ago.
Thomas leads the Big Ten in scoring (20.3 points per game) while shooting a career-best 41.3 percent from 3-point range, and his maturation with Jared Sullinger and William Buford gone could give Ohio State (16-4, 6-2) the chance to make a run at its second straight Final Four appearance.
After recording season lows of 11 points and 30.8 percent shooting (4 of 13) in last Saturday’s 65-51 win at Penn State, the 6-foot-7 junior used a combination of strength and finesse to go 10 of 17 from the field for 25 points in a 58-49 win over Wisconsin on Tuesday. Thomas, who matched a career-high with four assists, scored 10 during a game-changing 15-0 second-half run.
Ohio State is 8-1 this season when Thomas shoots 50.0 percent or better, and 9-0 in three seasons when he has at least three assists.
“That’s easily the best player we’ve played because of how he can get his own shots,” Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. “Thomas is good. He can attack. He’s so strong.”
Continue Reading: Ohio St.-Nebraska Preview (The Associated Press)
