Buckeyes Head South for Holidays – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/16/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 16, 1998
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WBNS-TV to televise three games in Puerto Rico%^$
The Buckeyes will have every game on its 1998-99 schedule televised with the addition%^$of the three games in Puerto Rico Dec. 21-23. WBNS (Channel 10) will air the games live at%^$7 p.m. each night of the tournament. Ohio State will open with Alabama-Birmingham Dec. 21%^$and will play either N.C. State or Middle-Tennessee State Dec. 22. All OSU games will air%^$live on WBNS Radio (AM 1460 and FM 97.1).
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%^$Buckeye starters scoring high from the field %^$
The five players who have started each game for Ohio State this season are knocking%^$down 53 percent of their shots this season (185-352). Senior Jason Singleton leads the way%^$with a 71.1 scoring average (32-45). That would be good enough for the No. 6 spot%^$nationally but he has not averaged the NCAA minimum of five field goals per game to%^$qualify for national rankings. Ken Johnson (.563) and Scoonie Penn (.505) are the other%^$two starters averaging over .500. Sophomores Jon Sanderson (.488) and Michael Redd (.472)%^$round out the starting five.
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%^$Johnson in Top 20 nationally in blocked shots%^$
Ohio State junior Ken Johnson ranks No. 16 nationally in blocked shots with 28 this season%^$after his one block against UT Martin. Johnson ranks second in the Big Ten behind Joel%^$Przybilla of Minnesota, who is second in the nation (12/15).
%^$Blocks Gm Bk Avg.%^$ 1 Alvin Jones, Ga. Tech 7 35 5.0%^$ Joel Przybilla, Minnesota 6 28 4.7%^$ 16 Ken Johnson, OSU 9 28 3.1%^$%^$Ohio State looks to make quickest turnaround in school history%^$
Ohio State could equal its win total from last season with a win over Florida%^$Atlantic. Should OSU come out of the game with the Owls 8-2, it will be the quickest an%^$OSU team equalled the previous season’s win total in school history (minimum eight%^$victories). OSU finished the 1997-98 campaign with an 8-22 mark and could reach that win%^$total Dec. 17. The previous record for quickest turnaround from one season to the next was%^$during the 1915-16 to 1916-17 seasons. OSU was 9-13 in 1915-16. The Buckeyes won their%^$ninth game the following year Jan. 13, 1917 against Oberlin (38-14). OSU finished 15-11%^$that season.
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%^$Radojevic leads JC team to No. 3 ranking at season midpoint%^$
After the conclusion of the early 1998-99 recruiting season, the Ohio State class of%^$Brent Darby, a 6-0, 185-pound guard, Slobodan Ocokoljic (o-SOAK-o-litch) a 6-8,%^$210-pound forward and Aleksandar Radojevic (Ra-DOY-yo-vitch), a 7-3, 245-pound center, is%^$ranked with the Top 15 classes nationally. Hoopscoop has OSU tied at No. 15 with Kansas.%^$Basketball Times rates the class No. 14 and Van Coleman of Future Stars rates the class%^$No. 11. Radajevic, the only returning sophomore at Barton Country (Kan.) Community%^$College, has helped his team to a 14-0 record and a No. 3 national ranking in the NJCAA.%^$He has averaged 12.9 points and 7.6 rebounds to go along with 49 blocks this season.
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%^$Florida Atlantic visits Columbus with 3-4 record%^$
Florida Atlantic pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the early going of the%^$college basketball season on the road at No. 18 Oklahoma State (12/1). The Owls came out%^$on top 83-81 in that game after starting the season 1-3. FAU started the season with a%^$loss to Miami, Fla., at home 97-73. The Owls then won at home 88-80 before losing two road%^$games to Wichita State (88-85) and Southern Methodist (91-61). After the win over Oklahoma%^$State, the Owls lost at South Florida 86-50 before downing Bethune-Cookman at home 90-78.%^$FAU is led by senior forward Damon Arnette’s 21.7 points per game. Forward Gary Durrant%^$follows at 17.9 ppg. Arnette also leads the squad in rebounding with 8.3 boards a contest.
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%^$Owls coming off 90-78 win over Bethune Cookman%^$
The Florida Atlantic Owls (3-4) used an 18-1 run midway through the second half to%^$pull away for good. That was after they led by just one point, 59-58, with 10:23 left to%^$play. For the first time this year, FAU had all five starters in double-figures. Gary%^$Durrant scored 21 points, while Ryan Hercek added 13. Hercek’s streak of free-throws ended%^$at 42. In addition, Rino Bevis and Cedric Powell scored 10 each in the winning effort.%^$Arnette played one of his best all-around games in an FAU uniform.
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%^$The senior scored 20 of his 32 points in the first half, and ended the night 12-of-17 from%^$the field. He knocked down 3 of 6 3-point attempts, dished out four assists, and had three%^$steals. FAU shot 55-percent from the field, its best mark of the season. Its 90 points%^$also marked a season high.
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%^$Ohio State to meet Florida Atlantic for first time%^$
The Buckeyes will face Florida Atlantic for the first time in the history of the two%^$schools. OSU has an overall record of 4-0 over members of the Trans-America Atlantic%^$Conference with with a single victory over Central Florida and a 3-0 record against%^$Stetson. Other conference members are: Campbell, Centenary, College of Charleston, Florida%^$International, Georgia State, Jacksonville State, Mercer, Samford, and Troy State.
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%^$Kevin Billerman at Fla.-Atlantic %^$
Kevin Billerman is in his fourth season as head coach of Florida Atlantic. Billerman%^$has compiled a record of 33-55 in his tenure. The Owls have put together 9-18, 16-11 and%^$5-22 seasons heading into the 1998-99 season (3-4). Billerman lettered at Duke from%^$1973-75 before taking on player/coaching duties for a team in Switzerland. His coaching%^$career began at Northern Durham High School where he compiled a 121-84 record over eight%^$season. His college coaching career began at UNC-Charlotte, where he was an assistant for%^$10 years. He coached one season in the WBL with the Hamilton Skyhawks in 1992 (17-17).
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%^$Owls visits Columbus at 3-4%^$
Florida Atlantic pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the early going of the%^$college basketball season on the road at No. 18 Oklahoma State (12/1). The Owls came out%^$on top 83-81 in that game after starting the season 1-3. FAU started the season with a%^$loss to Miami, Fla., at home 97-73. The Owls then won at home 88-80 before losing two road%^$games to Wichita State (88-85) and Southern Methodist (91-61). After the win over Oklahoma%^$State, the Owls lost at South Florida 86-50 before downing Bethune-Cookman at home 90-78.%^$FAU is led by senior forward Damon Arnette’s 21.7 points per game. Forward Gary Durrant%^$follows at 17.9 ppg. Arnette also leads the squad in rebounding with 8.3 boards a contest.
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%^$OSU three-point field goal streak extended to 193%^$
Ohio State has connected on at least one three-point field goal attempt over the last%^$193 games. Sophomore Michael Redd extended the streak with a trey early in the first half%^$against Tennessee Martin. The last time an OSU team missed all attempts from three-point%^$range was Feb. 2, 1992 when the Bucks went 0 for 5 in a 68-58 OSU win over Michigan.%^$Buckeye opponents have a streak of 184-consecutive games with at least one three-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 three-pointer.
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%^$Buckeye bits…%^$
OSU is 7-0 when leading at the half…The Buckeye bench has outscored the opponents%^$in seven of nine games for a total 222-159 advantage…26 times the Buckeyes have scored%^$in double figures this season, Michael Redd has been in double digits in each game,%^$Scoonie Penn six times…Ten different Buckeyes have scored in double figures this%^$season…Redd has scored in double figures in 38 of 39 career games, including the last%^$26…He has five career double-doubles.
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%^$Opponents shooting 39.6 percent%^$
Ohio State has held five of nine opponents under 40 percent shooting this season.%^$Opponents are shooting just 39.6 percent overall from the field (197-497). Ohio State has%^$been held under 40 percent just once. Penn State allowed the Buckeyes to connect on 26 of%^$66 attempts for 39.4 percent. OSU is shooting 49 percent on the season (266-547) after%^$connecting on 37 of 58 shots (.638) against UT Martin.
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%^$Aggressive defense helps OSU%^$
Not only is the Ohio State defense holding opponents to under 40 percent shooting from%^$the field, it has been blocking shots and helping itself with steals as well. Ohio State%^$has blocked more than three times as many shots as its opponents (45-15) and has more than%^$doubled its foes in steals (85-38). Ken Johnson is the leading shot blocker with 28 while%^$four Buckeyes have 10 or more steals. Jason Singleton leads with 20 thefts followed by%^$Scoonie Penn (15), Michael Redd (14) and Brian Brown (11).
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%^$Three Buckeyes could reach 1,000 %^$
Three Buckeyes could reach 1,000 career points this season. Senior Neshaun Coleman%^$(657) needs 343 points and classmate Jason Singleton (779) is just 221 short. Sophomore%^$Michael Redd went over the 800 mark (815) with 22 vs. UT Martin. He is 185 shy after his%^$record-setting freshman campaign (658 pts.). Another Buckeye, junior Scoonie Penn, could%^$reach 1,000 points as well for his career. He tallied 737 during two seasons at Boston%^$College. He has scored 133 at Ohio State leaving him 130 shy of 1,000.
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%^$Redd, Savovic pace Buckeyes in win over UT-Martin%^$
Michael Redd scored 22 points and Boban Savovic came off the bench to score 16 as Ohio%^$State beat Tennessee-Martin 92-56 Monday to give coach Jim O’Brien his 250th career%^$victory. O’Brien is 15-24 in his second season with the Buckeyes. He was 67-51 at St.%^$Bonaventure and 168-166 at Boston College and is now 250-241 in 17 seasons as a college%^$head coach. It was the fourth time Ohio State (7-2) had won by at least 27 points this%^$season. The other victims, all at home, were Oakland (89-61), Army (86-45) and Tennessee%^$Tech (78-51). The loss was the second in a row for Tennessee-Martin (3-6). Jason Singleton%^$added 12 points and Jon Sanderson 10 for Ohio State. Ryan DeMichael matched his career%^$high with 26 points for Tennessee-Martin. After the first seven minutes, the Skyhawks%^$trailed just 11-7. They cut an early 8-0 deficit to four points on DeMichael’s bank shot%^$at the 13:28 mark. That was short-lived, however, as Ohio State ran off the next 19%^$points. The Buckeyes were on top 51-24 at halftime and led by as many as 38 points in the%^$second half. Tennessee-Martin was hurt by the absence of injured starters Joe Crumby and%^$Ben Corley. Ohio State backup guard Neshaun Coleman didn’t dress after spraining his right%^$knee in the Buckeyes’ loss 64-63 loss to Toledo on Dec. 5.%^$
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Noting the Buckeyes…
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Neshaun Coleman…Has played double-digit minutes in seven games this season in a backup role…High of 11 points and three three-pointers against Oakland (11/13/98)…has six assists and six steals and just one turnover in 14.9 minutes a game this season…Has connected on his last 17 free throws, though has not been to the line this season…needs two assists to reach 200 for his career.%^$
Scoonie Penn…has six double-digit scoring outings, including a season-high 24 at Toledo…is shooting 51 percent from the field (48-95), 44 percent from three-point range (19-43) and 72 percent from the foul line (18-25)…shot just 32 percent from three-point range at Boston College…has two or more threes in six games…leads team in minutes played with 279 (31.0)…In last six games is shooting 14-28 (.500) from three-point range…Big Ten Player of the Week (11/16)…Has started all 65 games in which he has appeared…needs 9 FGs to reach 300 in career…has at least one assist in all but one game in his career (Miami, 1/2/97).%^$
Brian Brown…Second on team with 20 assists…has scored in every game…shooting .450 (9-20) from three-point range…has connected from long range in 7 of 9 games…has an assist in every game as a Buckeye (9)…played 14 or more minutes in every game.%^$
Boban Savovic…Had career high 16 points against UT Martin…Hit 6 of 8 shots vs. the Skyhawks, including 3 of 5 three-pointers…also added three assists vs. UTM…connected on 5 of 6 FTs vs. Army…scored 10 points in that game with three assists in 22 minutes.%^$
Michael Redd…Leads team with 17.4 ppg…also has 18 assists and 14 steals…second in rebounding with 5.7 rpg…second on team in minutes played with 29.2…One field goal short of 300 for career…has started all 39 OSU games in career…leads team with 58 FGs this season…had career high six three-pointers made vs. Oakland (11/13)…25 of 51 rebounds this season are on offensive end…has at least two rebounds in every game as a Buckeye (38).%^$
Jason Singleton…having a productive senior year…shooting .711 percent from the field (32-45)…hit 7 of 8 FTs to seal win over Alabama (11/15/98)…has played in 92 games at OSU…leads team with 2,243 career minutes…needs 12 rebounds to reach 300 in career…has connected on at least 60 percent of his shots from the field in 6 of 9 games this season.%^$
Devon Smith…has appeared in three games…played 10 minutes in win over Army (11/22/98).%^$
Kwadjo Steele…Knocked down first career three-pointer against UT Martin…has seen action in four games…scored two points in opener against Oakland…grabbed three boards in win over Army.%^$
Ken Johnson…Tied career high with 15 points at Vanderbilt (11/28/98)…Set career high with seven blocks against both Robert Morris and Vanderbilt…hit 7 of 8 shots from the field vs. Vanderbilt…leads team with 28 blocks…Ranks No. 16 nationally in that category…season total is already about half of his total of 58 last season…Seventh on all-time list with 86…has at least one block in 29 games as a Buckeye and 8 of 9 this year…leads team in rebounding with 5.9 rpg…Needs 20 rebounds for 200 in career…is a career .505 FG shooter (106-210).%^$
Jon Sanderson…Had season high 18 points vs. Army…connected on 6 of 13 (.462) from three-point range…one of four Buckeyes in double figures against UT Martin (10 pts.)…has started 37 of 39 career games. %^$
George Reese…Top player off the bench…in the game when it counts…second on team with 20 (tied with Ken Johnson) offensive rebounds. One of three Buckeyes making 70 percent of his FTs (21-30, .700)…made all six FT attempts against Vanderbilt…Has one double figure scoring game and six games with nine points.%^$
Will Dudley…Has appeared in 8 of 9 games this season…shooting 67 percent from the field (10-15)…connected on all five shots against Army for career best 11 points.%^$
Shamar Herron…Had season high five points in win over Army…has played in four games this season with high of 13 minutes against Army…had seven rebounds vs. the Cadets…24 of his 52 career rebounds have been on the offensive end of the floor.%^$
%^$Noting the game against UT-Martin%^$
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien earned his 250th career headcoaching victory with the win over Tennessee-Martin. He is now250-241 in 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach.%^$ Ohio State isnow 1-0 all-time against UT-Martin and 5-0 against the Ohio ValleyConference after the win.%^$ Ohio State’s 92-point output is theirhighest this year. The previous high was 89 points in the winagainst Oakland. %^$ Ohio State did not commit a foul until MichaelRedd was whistled at the 8:22 mark of the first half.%^$ MichaelRedd extended his streak of double figure scoring games afterscoring 22 points in the game. He has now scored in double figuresin 17 consecutive games and in 38 of his 39 career games. His22-point performance marked his second-highest point output thisyear (29 against Oakland).%^$ Ohio State’s 51-point first half wasthe second time they eclipsed the 50-point mark in a half. OSUtallied 58 in the first half of the season-opening win overOakland.%^$ Ohio State broke open a close game in the first half,running off 19 straight points over a 3:39 stretch to give theBucks a 30-7 lead. The Buckeyes did not trail in the game.%^$ JasonSingleton scored in double figures for the second time this season.He notched 19 against Alabama earlier this season.%^$ Boban Savovicscored a career-high 16 points in the win. His previous high was 10against Army on Nov. 22. Savovic drilled a three of fivethree-pointers. %^$ Kwadjo Steele nailed his first careerthree-point goal in the victory.%^$ The Buckeyes put four playersin double figures (Redd, Savovic, Singleton, Sanderson) for thesecond time this season. The other time was at Vanderbilt (Penn,Johnson, Reese, Redd).%^$ OSU outrebounded UTM 36-15. The 21-pointrebounding margin is the Buckeyes’ largest in a game this year.%^$OSU shot a season-high 63.8 percent from the field. Their previoushigh was 52 percent in a win over Alabama.%^$ The Buckeyes drilled11-of-20 three-pointers in the contest. The 11 made treys is thethird-most in OSU history. The record is 13, set earlier thisseason against Oakland. The Buckeyes also hit 11 against TennesseeTech earlier this season.%^$
%^$Michael Redd scores first Buckeye basket in Value City Arena%^$
The clock showed 18 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the first half when Buckeye%^$sophomore Michael Redd squared and launched a left-handed three-pointer from the right%^$wing. The attempt found the target, giving Ohio State a 3-0 lead, marking the first%^$official basket made at Value City Arena. For Redd, it was just the start of a 29-point%^$effort in leading the Buckeyes to an 89-61 victory. Redd made the first shot in each of%^$the exhibition openers as well.
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%^$Redd considered for Wooden Award%^$
Ohio State sophomore Michael Redd is on the preseason watch list as a candidate for%^$the prestigious John R. Wooden Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate%^$player. Redd is among 50 players under consideration this season.
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%^$Redd preseason all-Big Ten selection%^$
Both the Big Ten coaches and media selected the same five players to their preseason%^$all-Big Ten Teams at the annual media day festivities in Chicago (Oct. 25). Ohio State%^$sophomore Michael Redd earned a selection along with Louis Bullock (Michigan), Mateen%^$Cleaves (Michigan State), Evan Eschmeyer (Northwestern) and A.J. Guyton (Indiana). Cleaves%^$was tabbed as the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.
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%^$Buckeyes Celebrating 100 Years%^$
Ohio State will celebrate 100 years of men’s basketball during the 1998-99 season. The%^$Buckeyes first fielded a team in 1898, posting a record of 12-4. Since then, OSU has%^$compiled a record of 1,264-902 (.584). Since joining the Big Ten, Ohio State has won or%^$tied for 15 conference titles, winning 10 outright. OSU has an overall record in Big Ten%^$games of 610-599 in 87 years of membership.
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%^$Along the way, the Buckeyes have produced 14 All-Americans, three Associated Press players%^$of the year, 13 NBA first round draft picks, eight members of the National Basketball Hall%^$of Fame, two U.S. Olympians and countless others national, international, conference and%^$local award winners and team members.
