NCAA First Round…Ohio State vs. Appalachian State – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/13/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 13, 2000
The NCAA Opener
Ohio State (22-6), the No. 3 seed in the South Region, will play No. 14 Appalachian State (23-8) in the opening round Friday. The winner advances to face either No. 6 Miami (21-10) or No. 11 Arkansas (19-14).
The Buckeyes vs. Appalachian St.
Ohio State and Appalachian State will be meeting for the first time in the history of both programs.
The NCAA Tournament
Ohio State is making its 20th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its first back-to-back appearances since 1991-92. The Buckeyes have an overall record of 35-18 with one national title (1960), three runner-up finishes (1939, ’61, ’62) and four third-place marks (1944, ’45, ’46, ’68).
Year Region Seed Rcd 1939 Eastern * 2-1 1944 Eastern * 1-1 1945 Eastern * 1-1 1946 Eastern * 2-1 1950 Eastern * 1-1 1960 Mideast * 4-0 1961 Mideast * 3-1 1962 Mideast * 3-1 1968 Mideast * 3-1 1971 Mideast * 1-1 1980 West No. 4 1-1 1982 East No. 8 0-1 1983 East No. 3 1-1 1985 Midwest No. 4 1-1 1987 Southwest No. 9 1-1 1990 West No. 8 1-1 1991 Midwest No. 1 2-1 1992 Southwest No. 1 3-1 1999 South No. 4 4-1 2000 South No. 3 — * NCAA Tournament teams were not seeded prior to 1979.
Tournament Tested
The current roster of Buckeye players have been through the tournament wars the last two years. OSU won the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic, advanced to the seminfinals of the Big Ten Tournament and to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament last year.
2000 Postseason
No. 3 Ohio State (22-6)
vs.
No. 14 Appalachian State (23-8)
Friday, March 17
GAME FACTS
Ohio State is playing in its 20th NCAA Tournament and has a 35-18 record with one national title (1960). Ohio State has never met Applachian State previously but owns a 1-1 record vs. No. 6 seed Miami and a 1-2 record vs. No. 11 Arkansas. Ohio State lost to Miami last season 72-64, Dec. 27, 1998 in the Orange Bowl Classic. Ohio State was a No. 4 seed in the South Region last year when it advanced to the Final Four. Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien’s daughter, Erin, is an assistant coach with the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team. The No. 9 seed Commodores will meet No. 8 Kansas in Ruston, La., in the opening round of the women’s tournament Saturday.
ADVANCING
A win over Appalachian State would put the Buckeyes in a second round matchup with the winner of the No. 6 Miami vs. No. 11 Arkansas game. Second round games will be held Sunday, March 19.
The Broadcasts
March 17, 2000
Opponent: Appalachian State Site: Gaylord Ent. Cntr. (18,000) Game Time: 6:50 p.m. (CST) National TV: CBS TV Talent: Tim Brando (P-by-P) Rolando Blackman (Color) Jimmy Dykes (Sideline) Radio: OSU Radio Network (62 stations) Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460 Radio Talent: Paul Keels (P-by-P) Ron Stokes (Color)
No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (22-6, 13-3)
G 12-Scoonie Penn, 5-10, Sr.
G 22-Michael Redd, 6-6, Jr.
G 13-Brian Brown, 6-3, So.
C 32-Ken Johnson, 6-11, Sr.
F 40-George Reese, 6-7, Sr.
No. 14 Appalachian State
Probable Starters (23-8)
G 45-Shawn Alexander, 6-2, So.
G 14-Matt McMahon, 6-1, Sr.
G 10-Tyson Patterson, 5-9, Sr.
F 30-Cedrick Holmes, 6-5, Sr.
F 4-Corey Cooper, 6-7, Jr.
OSU 448-463 vs. 2000 NCAA Tournament field
Ohio State has faced 46 teams of the 64 in the 2000 NCAA Tournament and over the years has compiled a record of 448-463 against those teams. OSU is 164-141 vs. teams in the West Region, 89-81 vs. the Midwest, 175-212 vs. the East and 20-29 vs. teams in the South.
Buckeyes 7-3 this season vs. NCAA Tournament Teams
Ohio State has played 10 games against seven teams that made the NCAA Tournament this season. OSU is 2-0 vs. Wisconsin (No. 8 in the West), 1-0 vs. Purdue (No. 6, West), 1-0 vs. St. John’s (No. 2, West), 1-1 vs. Michigan State (No. 1 Midwest), 0-1 vs. Kansas (No. 8, East), 1-1 vs. Illinois (No. 4, East), 1-0 vs. Indiana (No. 6, East). Ohio State has not played any other team in the South Region in 1999-2000.
Appalachian State game a first for Buckeyes
Ohio State has never met Appalachian State in men’s basketball. The Buckeyes are 7-4 all-time against members of the Southern Conference. OSU is 2-3 vs. Davidson, 2-0 vs. East Tennessee State and 3-1 vs. Chattanooga. Other league schools include: UNC-Greensboro, VMI, Western Carolina, College of Charleston, Citadel, Furman, Georgia Southern and Wofford.
Mountaineer’s boast four in double digits
Appalachian State averages 79.6 points per game and has four players averaging in double figures. Junior guard Rufus Leach leads the team with 16.6 ppg., followed by senior guard Tyson Patterson’s 14.4 ppg., senior forward Cedrick Holmes’ 11.8 ppg., and sophomore guard Shawn Alexander’s 11.2 ppg. Holmes is the leading rebounder with 7.6 rpg. Patterson leads the team with 214 assists and 86 steals.
Peterson making mark on Mountaineer program
Buzz Peterson is in his fourth year as head basketball coach at Appalachian State and has established himself as one of the top coaches in collegiate basketball. The 36-year-old has a 79-38 overall record and 47-14 Southern Conference mark. Peterson won the 1999 and 2000 Southern Conference North Division title after capturing a share of the title in 1998. He was the 1997-98 SoCon Coach of Year. Appalachian won the SoCon Conference title this season (13-3) following a 68-56 win over College of Charleston.
Appalachian State 23-8 in 1999-00
Buzz Peterson has guided his fourth addition of Mountaineer basketball to a 23-8 record, including a winning streak of five games entering the NCAA Tournament.
Penn named First Team All-American by Basketball Times
Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn has been selected a First Team All-American by Basketball Times. Penn joins Pepe Sanchez (Temple), Marcus Fizer (Iowa State), Kenyon Martin (Cincinnati), and Troy Murphy (Notre Dame) on the first team.
OSU has lost just one first round game in 19 previous tournaments
Ohio State has won at lease one NCAA Tournament game in 18 of 19 previous appearances. The only first round loss was to James Madison (55-48) March 11, 1982. The Buckeyes have won two or more nine times, including the last three appearances. OSU has won three or more six times and four games twice, including the national title (4-0) in 1960 and a 4-1 record last year.
Buckeyes notch biggest NCAA Tournament win last year vs. Detroit
The win over Detroit (75-44) in the second game of the opening round last season was the biggest in NCAA Tournament play for the Buckeyes. The 31-point victory surpasses the 27-point win over Mississippi Valley State (83-56) in the first round of the 1992 NCAA Tournament.
Penn to play in 4th NCAA event
Ohio State senior Scoonie Penn will be playing in his fourth NCAA Tournament. He played his first two as a member of the Boston College Eagles in both 1996 and ’97. He helped guide the Buckeyes to the Final Four last year and again has helped OSU to the NCAA Tournament this year.
O’Brien 7th OSU coach to take the Buckeyes to the NCAA Tournament
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien is the seventh head coach at Ohio State to guide his team to NCAA Tournament play. O’Brien follows Harold Olsen (1939, ’44, ’45, ’46), William “Tippy” Dye (1950), Fred Taylor (1960, ’61, ’62, ’68, ’71), Eldon Miller (1980, ’82, ’83, ’85), Gary Williams (1987) and Randy Ayers (1990, ’91, ’92). O’Brien joins a select group of coaches to have taken two teams to the NCAA Tournament after guiding Boston College into NCAA play three times (1994, ’96, ’97). O’Brien is 9-4 in NCAA Tournament play.
Buckeyes own 10th best winning percentage in NCAA Tournament
Ohio State is 35-18 all-time in the NCAA Tournament including a 4-1 record last year. The all-time winning percentage of .660 is 10th in NCAA history.
No. School Rcd. Pct. 1. Duke 65-21 .756 2. UCLA 74-27 .733 3. UNLV 30-12 .714 4. Kentucky 84-35 .706 5. North Carolina 76-33 .697 6. Indiana 52-23 .693 7. Michigan 41-19 .683 8. Kansas 58-28 .674 9. Cincinnati 34-17 .667 10. Ohio State 35-18 .660
Redd, Penn selected to NABC squad
The Ohio State men’s basketball guard tandem of senior Scoonie Penn and junior Michael Redd both have been selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 10 First Team. The Buckeye guards join A.J. Guyton of Indiana, Troy Murphy of Notre Dame and Kenyon Martin of Cincinnati.
Penn selected to NABC Second Team
OSU senior guard Scoonie Penn has made the NABC Second Team All-America Squad, along with Morris Peterson of Michigan State, Mark Madsen of Stanford, Shane Battier of Duke and Troy Murphy of Notre Dame. Kenyon Martin (Cincinnati), A.J. Guyton (Indiana), Chris Mihm (Texas), Chris Carrawell (Duke) and Marcus Fizer (Iowa State) make up the first team.
Penn State advances with win over Buckeyes
Joe Crispin scored seven points in the final 2:20 and Penn State defeated a ranked team, No. 4 Ohio State, for the first time in 10 tries this season, beating one that was in the Final Four last season. With Scoonie Penn struggling, shooting just 3-of-16, the Buckeyes (22-6) fell for the third time in four Big Ten Tournament games. Powerful Jarrett Stephens, the only Big Ten player to average a double-double this season, scored 21 points and had 12 rebounds for Penn State (15-14). Titus Ivory added 17 and Crispin had 13. Penn State, the No. 9 seed, beat Michigan in the first round. The Nittany Lions had lost twice to Ohio State in the regular season, by 13 in Columbus and six in State College. George Reese scored 22 for Ohio State, and Michael Redd had 19. But Penn, the Buckeyes’ leader, continued a late-season stretch of cold shooting. Ohio State closed the regular season with a five-game winning streak, despite 16-of-55 shooting from the senior. Penn managed just eight points Saturday and was 2-of-14 on 3-pointers. He added eight assists. As a team, the Buckeyes were 4-of-26 on 3-pointers.
Noting the game with Penn State
– Penn State connected on 52 percent of its shots from the field (28-54) marking only the second time this season an opponent has shot 50 percent or better. Notre Dame hit 20-40 shots (.500) in a opening-season loss to the Fighting Irish.
– Ohio State is just 1-3 in Big Ten Conference Tournament games in the three-year history of the event. OSU is 0-1 vs. Indiana, 1-0 vs. Michigan, 0-1 vs. Illinois and 0-1 vs. Penn State.
– The loss to the Nittany Lions evened the all-time series with Penn State. Both teams have 11 wins. The Buckeyes won both meetings during the regular season.
– Senior center Ken Johnson blocked four shots in Chicago vs. Penn State to give him 155 on the season. He holds the Big Ten record for blocks in a single season with that total. Johnson has 313 rejections in his career. He is only the sixth Big Ten player in history to block 300 or more and just the second Buckeye (Herb Williams, 328).
– Junior Michael Redd moved closer to fourth place on the all-time OSU scoring list with 1,845 points. Redd, currently fifth, has his sights on No. 4 Kelvin Ransey, who scored 1,934 career points.
– Ohio State has now connected on at least one 3-point goal in 248-consecutive games. Scoonie Penn extended the streak with a 3-pointer late in the first half.
– Scoonie Penn is now in 35th place in career scoring at Ohio State with 1,034 points. Penn now has 1,771 total points in his career at Boston College (737) and Ohio State.
– George Reese led the Buckeyes with 22 points vs. the Nittany Lions. He has connected on 19 of 25 shots in the last two games (.760). He led the Big Ten in field goal percentage in Big Ten play (.535) this season.
– George Reese scored in double figures (22 vs. PSU) for the 20th time this season. OSU owns a 16-4 record in those contests. Reese has reached double digits in each of the last 10 games.
– Ken Johnson needs 16 blocks to claim the career lead at Ohio State. Johnson has 313. He is second to the 328 rejected by Herb Williams (1972-81). Johnson has six games this season with eight or more blocks. All six rank among the Top 10 single game efforts at OSU.
– Ohio State senior Scoonie Penn is second in career 3-pointers made with 146, just one behind Neshaun Coleman (147), who set the record last year. Penn also is second in career 3-pointers attempted in a season with 192. He set the record last season with 229 long-range attempts.
– Junior Michael Redd is ninth in career thefts after recording a pair against Penn State. Redd has 143 in his three seasons as a Buckeye.
Reese earns league honor
Senior George Reese was awarded the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after leading the Buckeyes to a pair of road wins over Penn State and Minnesota to help OSU to a share of the 2000 Big Ten Title. Reese averaged 20.5 points and shot 64 percent from the field. He tied a career high with 25 points at Minnesota on 10 of 12 shooting from the field.
Buckeyes among few to use same starters
According to STATS Inc., Ohio State is among just six schools to use just one or two different starting lineups all season. Hawaii has used the same starters all season. Ohio State, Southern Illinois, St. John’s, Vermont and Wofford have used just two lineups in 1999-2000.
OSU closes with five-consecutive wins to end regular season
The Buckeyes ended the regular season with their fifth-consecutive win at Minnesota. Ohio State has not closed in such fashion since the 1992 season when the Buckeyes finished the regular season 6-0 before winning the first three games in the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes then fell to Michigan 75-71 in the Midwest Regional Finals. The Buckeyes traveled to four of their final six games and won its final three battles on the road.
Buckeyes 3-2 vs. RPI Top 25
Ohio State has played 12 games against opponents ranked among the Top 64 teams in the latest Rating Percentage Index (March 4), used to selected the field of 64 in the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State, No. 23 in the RPI, is 3-2 against teams in the Top 25. Ohio State is 1-0 vs. St. John’s (5), 1-0 vs. Indiana (13), 0-1 vs. Kansas (16), , 1-1 vs. Michigan State (19), 1-1 vs. Illinois (27), 1-0 vs. Purdue (28), 2-0 vs. Wisconsin (36), 0-1 vs. Iowa (56), and 0-1 vs. Notre Dame (57).
Penn joins OSU 1,000-point club
In just his second season in Columbus, Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn reached the 1,000-point club at Ohio State. Penn is the 38th player in OSU history to reach 1,000 career points. Penn scored 609 as an OSU junior and has 425 this year. Penn became just the second player to record 1,000 points in his only two seasons as a Buckeye. Brad Sellers (1985-86) was the first to do so with 1,122 points in his career. Penn also became just the seventh Buckeye to reach 1,000 points in his first two seasons at Ohio State.
Player (yrs. lettered) 1st 2 yrs. at OSU Jerry Lucas (1960-62) 1,381 (1960-61) Michael Redd (1998-) 1,361 (1998-99) Brad Sellers (1985-86) 1,122 (1985-86) Herb Williams (1978-81) 1,069 (1978-79) Jim Jackson (1990-92) 1,067 (1990-91) Dave Sorenson (1968-70) 1,041 (1968-69) Scoonie Penn (1999-00) 1,034 (1999-00)
OSU reaches consecutive 20-win seasons
Jim O’Brien has guided the Buckeyes to a 13-3 record in the Big Ten and a 22-6 overall record after completing the conference schedule with a 12-4 record and an overall mark of 27-9 last year. Ohio State tied for the Big Ten Title with its recent win at Minnesota. OSU finished second in the league a year ago. The Buckeyes have posted back-to-back 10+ win seasons in the Big Ten for the first time since 1991, 1992. OSU was 15-3 in both seasons tying for the Big Ten Title in 1991 and earning it outright in 1992. The win over Illinois (2/27) gave the Buckeyes back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1990-91 when OSU won 27 and 26 games, respectively.
Johnson reaches 300 career blocks, 6th on Big Ten list
Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 313 blocks in his career after swatting four vs. Penn State (3/10). Johnson is just the second Buckeye and the sixth Big Ten player to reach 300 career blocks. Johnson is currently fifth in Big Ten history with 313 rejections. Herb Williams (1977-81) leads OSU and is fourth all-time among Big Ten players with 328 rejections.
Big Ten Career Blocked Shots leaders 1. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-99 428 2. Acie Earl, IOWA 1989-93 365 3. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-80 349 4. Herb Williams, OSU 1977-81 328 5. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998- 313 6. Brad Sellers, WIS-OSU 1981-86 307 7. Roy Tarpley, MICH 1982-86 251 8. Kevin McHale, MINN 1976-80 235 9. Greg Stokes, IOWA 1981-85 229 10.Randy Breuer, MINN 1979-83 228
Big Ten Season Blocked Shot leaders 1. Ken Johnson, OSU 1999-00 155 2. Calvin Booth, PSU 1997-98 140 3. Jim Pitts, NU 1965-66 123 4. Acie Earl, Iowa 1991-92 121 5. Acie Earl, Iowa 1990-91 106 6. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-78 105 7. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-96 101 8. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998-99 100 9. Dean Garrett, IND 1987-88 99 10.Roy Tarpley, MICH 1985-86 97 Brad Sellers, OSU 1985-86 97
OSU No. 16 in Sagarin Ratings
Ohio State is No. 16 in the Sagarin Ratings as of March 11. The Buckeyes have a 9-5 record vs. the Sagarin, another tool for the NCAA Tournament selection, Top 64 and a 7-3 rank vs. the Top 25. OSU has played Michigan State (4), Indiana (14), Illinois (15), Kansas (21), Purdue (23), St. John’s (24), Wisconsin (25), Penn State (2-0, 57) and Iowa (63) in the Sagarin Top 64.
Johnson, Buckeyes leading nation, Big Ten in several categories
Ohio State senior center Ken Johnson is leading Big Ten players and the nation in blocks this season. Johnson is sending back 5.54 shots per game with 155 blocks on the year. Johnson has the fifth highest block per game average in NCAA history as of March 11.
NCAA Single Season Blocks Avg. 1.#Adonal Foyle, Colgate 1997 6.43 2.#Keith Closs, C. Conn. St. 1996 6.36 3.#David Robinson, Navy 1986 5.91 4. Adonal Foyle, Colgate 1996 5.69 5. Ken Johnson, OSU 2000 5.54 6.#Keith Closs, C. Conn. St. 1995 5.35 7.#Shaquille O’Neal, LSU 1992 5.23 8.#Shawn Bradley, BYU 1991 5.21 9. Theo Ratliff, Wyoming 1995 5.14 # Led nation in blocks.
Johnson is current national leader with 151.
O’Brien guides 10th team to 17+ wins
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien has led his 10th team to the 17+ win-plateau and with the victory over Illinois (2/27) the Buckeyes are 22-6 this year. In nine previous seasons when an O’Brien-coached team reached 17 wins, the squad advanced to postseason play eight times, including the Final Four last year when OSU was 27-9 overall. The only season one of his teams did not go to the postseason with 17+ wins was his second campaign at St. Bonaventure when his 18-13 squad of 1983-84 did not advance. O’Brien has taken four teams to the NCAA Tournament and four to the NIT. O’Brien has coached four previous teams to 20 or more wins. Three have advanced to the NCAA Tournament. His first team at St. Bonaventure (20-10, 1982-83) played in the NIT. The last two seasons at Ohio State mark the first time he has coached back-to-back teams to 20+ win seasons.
Penn edges closer to 3-point record
Neshaun Coleman, a captain last season, set the all-time record for 3-pointers made in a career with 147 during OSU’s run through the Final Four last year. Scoonie Penn could break that mark in just two seasons in Columbus with two more this season. He has a career total of 146, which includes his OSU single-season record of 88 made last year. His 58 made this year ranks fifth.
Penn reaches Top 10 in assists
With eight assists against Penn State (3/10), Scoonie Penn is moving closer to the No. 9 spot in all-time assists at Ohio State. Penn claimed the No. 10 spot in career assists at Ohio State in just two seasons. Penn dished out 154 assists as a junior and has 126 this season for a career total of 280.
Redd enters Top 10 list for career starts
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd started his 94th career game against Penn State (3/10). Redd, in less than three full seasons, is 10th all-time in career starts. Redd has started every game of his OSU career.
Three of six OSU losses come in final three seconds
Ohio State (22-6) has lost three games this season on opponent shots that fell in the final three seconds of the game. The first was in the season opener vs. Notre Dame when the Buckeyes battled from a four-point deficit with 54 seconds to play to tie the game at 57 with 18 seconds left. The Irish’s David Graves then hit an off-balance shot from the left side at the buzzer for a 59-57 ND victory. OSU then battled from 10 down with 5:47 left to tie the score at 77 vs. Illinois with five seconds to play on a Brian Brown tip-in. UI’s Frank Williams then launched a straight-on 3-pointer that fell at the buzzer to give the Illini an 80-77 victory. Iowa won with three seconds to play on a Kyle Galloway 3-pointer from the left corner after OSU came back from 10 down to tie the game at 64 with seven seconds to play. OSU did come out on top at St. John’s this season after battling from 10 down with 2:49 to play to take a 65-64 lead with 23 seconds left on a pair of Scoonie Penn free throws. Penn then blocked a 3-point attempt by SJU’s Erick Barkley to preserve the win.
2-year home record rates high at OSU
Ohio State has compiled a 29-3 (.906) record over the last two season in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes were 14-1 in the inaugural season in VCA last season and notched a 15-2 record at home in 1999-00. In back-to-back season in which the Buckeyes have won at least 25 wins at home, the current record of 29-3 stands fourth all-time for home record in consecutive seasons. The 1962-63 teams posted a record 25-0 record during a span of 50 home games in which the Buckeyes were undefeated from 1960-64.
Ohio State home record in back to back seasons
Seasons 2-yr. home Rec. Win Pct. 1962-63 25-0 1.000 1991-92 30-1 .968 1990-91 27-2 .931 1999-00 29-3 .906 1985-86 26-5 .839 1982-83 25-5 .833 1986-87 26-7 .788 1985-86 26-5 .781
Redd catches Jackson for No. 5 spot in OSU career scoring
Michael Redd is in fifth place all-time at OSU in scoring with 1,845 career points after a 19-point effort vs Penn State (3/10/00). Redd trails No. 4 Kelvin Ransey (1977-80) by 189 points. Ransey ended his OSU career with 1,934 points.
OSU vs. the Top 10
Ohio State played its fourth Top 10 team of the season against the No. 10 Hoosiers of Indiana (2/19/00). The Buckeyes lost 80-67 earlier this season to No. 8 Kansas in Lawrence but ended then-No. 10 MSU’s 21-game Big Ten winning streak with a 78-67 victory Jan. 20 in Columbus. Michigan State avenged its loss in Columbus with an 83-72 win over the Buckeyes (2/16). The Buckeyes then downed No. 10 Indiana on the road 82-71 (2/19). All-Time, Ohio State has a 50-100 record against teams ranked in the AP Top 10.
OSU when ranked in Top 10
No. 4 Ohio State opened the season ranked No. 4 but fell to No. 15 following a 59-57 loss to Notre Dame in the opening round of the NIT. Ohio State has a record of 195-51 (.793) in games when the Buckeyes are ranked among the Associated Press Top 10 teams in the nation.
Ohio State owns edge in big games
When Ohio State is ranked and plays a ranked opponent, the Buckeyes have a 52-37 record all-time. OSU has taken an Associated Press ranking into games against ranked foes six
times this season.
Penn, Redd battle for scoring lead
The Ohio State guard duo of Michael Redd and Scoonie Penn each have led the Buckeyes in scoring this season. Redd is the current leader at 17.3 ppg. Penn is currently second with 15.2 points per game. Redd has scored 484 points followed by Penn with 425. Redd is just the 12th Buckeye to record 400 or more points in a season three times.
Penn among 22 finalists for Wooden Award
Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn is listed among the 22 finalists for the 2000 John R. Wooden Award as college basketball player of the year. The 10 finalists will be announced March 28.
Redd begins another double-figure scoring streak
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd has appeared in 94 games as a Buckeye. He has failed to reach double figures in scoring just three times, a nine-point effort vs. BYU (12/30/97), an eight-point outing at Michigan (1/16/99) and a career-low four-point outing against Oakland (12/27/99). Redd scored in double figures in 26-consecutive games before the Oakland game. He scored 10 or more in 34-consecutive contests after the BYU game his freshman season. He has reached double digits in his last 19 games.
Johnson likely has made final move on OSU career swat chart but…
Ohio State senior center Ken Johnson likely made his final assault on the Buckeye career blocked shots chart with his eight-rejection night against Eastern Kentucky, which moved him into second-place all-time (313) at Ohio State in career blocks. Johnson trails the 328 recorded blocks by Buckeye great Herb Williams (1978-81) by 15. Johnson averaged 1.9 bpg (58/30 gms.) as a sophomore, 2.8 bpg. (100/36 gms.) as a junior and 5.54 bpg. (155/28 gms.) so far this season. If he keeps up his current pace he could still reach Williams’ record. Ohio State has at least one game remaining. Johnson could reach the record on his current pace in three games.
Redd, Penn eclipse 1,700 career points
The Ohio State guard tandem of senior Scoonie Penn and junior Michael Redd reached 1,700 career points against Michigan State. Redd has 1,845 career points, good for fifth on the OSU career list. Penn, who spent two seasons at Boston College, has scored 1,771 career points. Penn tallied 737 while at BC and has 1,034 at Ohio State.
Team Notes
Ohio State has scored 70 or more points in 16 games this season and has an 14-2 record in those games…Ohio State has held 16 of 28 opponents under 65 points this season and has an 15-1 record in those games…Ohio State has blocked at least one opponent shot in the last 65 games (0 vs. Penn State, 2/28/98)-Ken Johnson has started the last 64 games…an OSU player has scored in double figures 102 times this season…Michael Redd has 27, Scoonie Penn 24 and George Reese 20…four different players have reached the 20-point plateau with Redd leading the way with eight followed by Reese with five and Penn with four each…Penn is the only Buckeye with a 30-point game this season, he did so against Michigan State (30 pts.) Feb. 16…10 times a player has reached double digits in rebounding led by Ken Johnson with five followed by Redd with four…the Buckeyes are 15-1 when leading at the half and have come back to win seven of 12 games when trailing at the break…when the OSU bench outscores the opponent bench, the Buckeyes are 14-2 but are still 8-4 when the opposing bench holds the advantage…the Buckeyes are 9-4 in games decided by 10 points or less and 13-2 in games decided by 11 or more points.
Blocks spark OSU defense
Ohio State, led by senior center Ken Johnson’s 155 blocks, has rejected 192 shots this season while foes have just 72.
Buckeyes spend last 29 weeks in AP poll
Ohio State spent the final 10 weeks of the 1998-99 season and the first 19 weeks of 1999-00 ranked among the Top 25 teams nationally in the Associated Press Poll. The Buckeyes finished 1998-99 No. 14 in the AP and No. 4 in the ESPN/USA Today polls. OSU finished No. 4 in the AP this season and is No. 8 in the ESPN/USA Today polls (3/13/00). Ohio State opened the 1999-00 season No. 5 in the AP poll then moved to No. 4 the week of Nov. 15.
OSU vs. the Big Ten
Ohio State played its 1,200th game against the current alignment of Big Ten teams against Indiana (Jan. 9, 1999). The Buckeyes earned their 600th win over current Big Ten opponents with a 70-62 win over Penn State in the earliest Big Ten game ever played Nov. 20, 1998 in Columbus.
Big Ten Series Records
Illinois 56-94
Indiana 66-92
Iowa 59-67
Michigan 78-67
Michigan State 44-51
Minnesota 69-50
Northwestern 97-44
Penn State 11-11
Purdue 67-77
Wisconsin 78-53
Totals 625-606
OSU 3-point field goal streak extended to 248
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 248 games. Scoonie Penn extended the streak late in the first half against Penn State. The last time an OSU team missed all attempts from 3-point range was Feb. 2, 1992 when the Buckeyes went 0 for 5 in a 68-58 OSU win over Michigan. Buckeye opponents have a streak of 240-consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer made. Michigan went 0-10 from long range March 3, 1992 in an OSU 75-66 victory, marking the last time an opponent was held without a 3-pointer.
Redd, Reese post 1st 50-point combo since 1995
Columbus natives George Reese and Michael Redd combined to score 50 points in the win over Michigan (2/6) with 25 points apiece. The last time a pair of Buckeyes combined for 50 or more points was Jan. 8, 1995 when Doug Etzler (37) and Rick Yudt (26) scored 63 in a 121-96 win over George Mason in St. John Arena. Etzler connected on 12 of 15 shots from the field, 8 of 11 3-pointers and 5 of 6 free throws. Yudt was 10 of 19, 2-8 and 4-4. Reese and Redd managed to score 50 on the road. The last time that happened was Feb. 2, 1994 at Indiana when Lawrence Funderburke (26) and Jamie Skelton (24) reached 50 in an 87-83 loss to the Hoosiers in overtime. Indiana’s Alan Henderson (29) and Pat Graham (22) combined for 51 in the win.
