Head coach Thad Matta had some harsh words for the team following its 74-71 loss at Indiana, and the defensive intensity that has been the team's calling card at times seems to have returned.

Blowout wins over Nebraska (71-40) and Iowa (76-47) have momentarily righted the ship, and while turnovers remain an issue that the team continues to work to correct, the Buckeyes proved that they aren't going to play down to their competition.

In those two games combined, Ohio State hounded its opponents into a combined 33-of-105 shooting from the floor and 36 turnovers. Indeed, any time you can force more turnovers than baskets allowed, you're doing something right.

Conversely, Jared Sullinger has been monstrous in the paint, going 21-of-31 over the same stretch.

Nebraska, one could argue, wasn't much of a threat, particularly considering that they had to play the Buckeyes in Value City Arena where Matta's teams have won 35 games in a row. Iowa, on the other hand, got to host Ohio State after showing some serious teeth in the three games prior.

After fighting Purdue down to the wire (ultimately relenting a three-point loss), the Hawkeyes traveled to then-eleventh-ranked Wisconsin and Minnesota and came away victorious both times. The wins injected some needed life into a team that had been just 8-6 on the season, and the home crowd responded in kind at the opening whistle.

In the end, however, Ohio State - despite continued carelessness with the basketball and the shooting woes of William Buford (3-of-14) - was simply too much for the Hawkeyes to handle.

The lopsided wins have had a positive ancillary effect. Apart from proving that this is still a dominant basketball team, the nature of the games has allowed Matta to delve deeply into his bench and get relevant minutes to some of the team's youngest and least experienced players.

Freshmen Shannon Scott, Amir Williams, and Sam Thompson all made measurable contributions over those two games. If nothing else, these players will be more valuable in practice having gotten a taste of conference play.

Ohio State's next big test is the rematch with the aforementioned Hoosiers, this time in the confines of the VCA. After downing the Buckeyes, the Hoosiers bested No. 13 Michigan for their third quality victor of the season. Home or away, Tom Crean's team is now a very tough out.

Sullinger should be able to neutralize Indiana freshman Cody Zeller again, but Victor Oladipo's athleticism and Jordan Hulls's shooting will have to be contained if the Buckeyes expect to win what has become a marquee game.