As many times as the OSU men’s basketball team has bounced back and forth this season, it is probably best that its goals remain the same. Taking it one game at a time is about all the Buckeyes, 4-8 in the Big Ten, can do.

Luckily for the Buckeyes, they are coming off a high point in their season as they travel to Minnesota today. OSU is looking to follow up a win over Indiana Saturday with another victory over the Golden Gophers.

“We toughed it out that game (against Indiana). It wasn’t very pretty but we got it done at the end when it counted,” OSU center Velimir Radinovic said. “Hopefully that will carry over through the next couple games.”

The Buckeyes and Gophers last met in January at the Schottenstein Center. At that time both were fighting for their first Big Ten win and OSU walked away with it in a 73-62 win. Since that time both teams have struggled but found ways to steal victories from teams above them in the conference.

Minnesota, 2-11 in the Big Ten, grabbed both of its victories in the past two weeks by beating Michigan and Indiana. The Gophers are coming off a loss to Purdue though. OSU beat Purdue earlier in the season.

“I think they’ve hit the same kind of problems we’ve had this year. They have some young faces,” Radinovic said. “But they definitely have some offensive fire power. You can’t take any team lightly – especially when you are in the Big Ten.”

The Buckeyes’ problems have stemmed from inconsistencies throughout the season and a lack of team chemistry. They started the season with high aspirations, but since the players – who have spent a short time together – couldn’t click, the team now finds itself in the bottom third of the Big Ten. Even if the Buckeyes win out the regular season, they wil have only an 8-8 conference record.

“It’s tough watching these games, and you don’t even see Ohio State mentioned in the brackets,” Radinovic said. “We’ve got to keep playing, keep our heads up and try to win the next game.”

Tonight’s matchup should be between the big men, who are leading both teams and the Big Ten.

Radinovic is leading the Big Ten in field goal percentage with 67.4 percent. Against Indiana Saturday the 7-footer scored a career-high 23 points. For his combined 77.3 percent shooting against Iowa and Indiana last week and two consecutive double-doubles, Radinovic was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the first time in his four years with OSU.

“It’s nice to be recognized, and it’s nice to have the recognition for good guys. He’s been a real solid kid here for four years,” OSU coach Jim O’Brien said. “He’s exactly the type of kid you want to have in your program.”

When Radinovic is paired with forward Terence Dials, the two create one of the more dangerous down-low tandems in the Big Ten.

“We get a little bit of confidence, especially (Radinovic) who has been having the last two weeks of the season where he has been playing great,” Dials said. “(Radinovic) makes most of his shots and when you have a guy like that you have to get him the ball.”

Leading Minnesota is forward Kris Humphries. As a freshman, Humphries is leading the conference in scoring with 22.2 points per game and in rebounding with 10.1 boards per game. While the forward is only 6-foot 9-inches and may not provide the presence in size, he is a threat in his shooting abilities.

“You can take any player in America and put him in any league as seniors or anybody and they would probably be hard-pressed to lead good leagues in rebounding and scoring,” O’Brien said. “Here we have a kid who’s doing it as a freshman. Averaging a double-double, he is a load and he is very, very good.”

Despite not starting at Indiana, both OSU guards Brandon Fuss-Cheatham and J.J. Sullinger are back on the probable starters list.