The second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes open up Big Ten play on New Year’s Eve, as they travel to Bloomington to battle the Indiana Hoosiers.

Thad Matta’s Buckeyes have looked the part of a national title contender in the first half of the season, cruising to a perfect 13-0 record, with every victory coming by double figures. The team was last in action on Monday when OSU blasted Tennessee-Martin in Columbus, 100-40.

The Hoosiers have already begun Big Ten play, but certainly not the way that head coach Tom Crean would have liked. Indiana dropped a 69-60 decision at home to Penn State on Monday. It was the third straight loss for the Hoosiers, spoiling a terrific start to the season that saw the team win nine of its first 11 games.

Indiana holds a 99-72 advantage in the series with Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have won the last four meetings.

The Hoosiers fell victim to a hot shooting Penn State squad this week, as the Nittany Lions converted 53.8 percent from the floor overall, including 47.1 percent from behind the arc (8-of-17). PSU also outscored the hometown team 19-5 at the free-throw line. Verdell Jones III led the Hoosiers in the scoring column with 15 points. Victor Oladipo and Jordan Hulls completed the three- guard set with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Leading scorer Christian Watford was neutralized, netting a mere three points in the setback. Watford has been much more productive on the year, pacing the team with 17.2 ppg. Jones is a distant second at 12.5 ppg, followed by Hulls’ 9.5 ppg.

William Buford scored the first seven points of the game and the rout was on, as OSU whipped UT-Martin by 60 points at Value City Arena this week. Buford finished the game with 23 points and got plenty of help, as Deshaun Thomas poured in 20, Jared Sullinger recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds and David Lighty and Dallas Lauderdale chipped in with 10 points apiece. OSU has thrived at both ends of the court this season, leading to a hefty +28.8 scoring margin. Sullinger has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week in six of the seven weeks of the season thus far and comes into this game averaging a double-double with team-highs of 17.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Four others are averaging double figures for an obviously talented offensive team. Buford is next in line at 13.3 ppg, followed by Lighty (12.9 ppg), Jon Diebler (12.2 ppg) and Thomas (11.7 ppg).

The Buckeyes are clicking on all cylinders right now and although all of Indiana’s wins this year have come in Bloomington, there is little chance the Hoosiers add to their win total in this one.