Challenging Schedule Ahead for Ohio State – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/31/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 31, 1998
Miami claims first win over a Big Ten with 72-64 win over Buckeyes
Senior Tim James scored a career-high 29 points and the Miami Hurricanes earned their first victory over a Big Ten team, beating Ohio State 72-64 in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Miami had been 0-11 previously against the Big Ten. The Hurricanes improved to 7-2 with their fifth consecutive win. Ohio State, which had won five in a row, fell to 11-3. The game was part of a doubleheader at the Florida Panther’s new arena that drew a crowd of 11,051. Florida beat Michigan 79-63 in the first game. Miami raced to a 20-6 lead as Ohio State missed 15 of its first 17 shots. The Buckeyes closed to within 32-29 early in the second half, but got no closer. James hit three consecutive baskets for the Hurricanes, giving them a 46-35 lead with 11:20 left. He converted a 3-point play with a steal and lay up to make the score 61-54 with 1:40 left to go. James hit 11 of 19 shots, grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked five shots and made three steals in 33 minutes. Teammate Vernon Jennings scored 19 points, and Johnny Hemsley added 14. Michael Redd led Ohio State with 19 points. Jon Sanderson added 13 and Scoonie Penn 11.
Buckeyes to face several ranked teams over coming weeks
Ohio State will face No. 19 Wisconsin (Jan. 2), No. 8 Indiana (Jan. 9), No. 21 Iowa (Jan. 12), No. 11 Purdue (Jan. 19), No. 16 Minnesota (Jan. 23) and No. 13 Michigan State (Jan. 29) in six of the next seven games. The only non-ranked opponent will be Michigan (Jan. 16) on the road. Ohio State is receiving votes in both major polls after a 10-3 non-conference season and a 1-0 start in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes are ranked No. 44 in the Associate Press poll and No. 30 in the ESPN/USA Today poll. Against Wisconsin, the Buckeyes will be facing its first Top 25 team of the season and the first Top 20 squad since a match-up with No. 10 Purdue (L 107-75, 2/7/98). The last ranked opponent to face the Buckeyes was No. 21 Michigan (L 76-68, 2/11/98). The last time Ohio State defeated a ranked foe was Jan. 30, 1997 when the Buckeyes downed No. 17 Indiana 73-67.
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 (301-572). Senior Jason Singleton leads the way with a 70.3 scoring average (52-74). That would be good enough for a Top 10 spot nationally but he has not averaged the NCAA minimum of five field goals per game to qualify for national rankings. Jon Sanderson (.567) and Ken Johnson (.569) are the other starters averaging .500 or more. Michael Redd (.475) and Scoonie Penn (.471) round out the starting five.
Ohio State makes quickest turnaround in school history
Ohio State equalled its win total from last season with the win over Florida Atlantic (99-70). The win over the Owls, marked 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 reached that 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.
Wisconsin vs. Michigan
Michigan’s two-man offense was just enough to overcome Wisconsin’s one-man show Wednesday. Robbie Reid and Louis Bullock combined to score 49 points as Michigan rallied for a 59-55 win over No. 19 Wisconsin, snapping the Badgers’ 10-game winning streak. Reid scored a career-high 25 points and Bullock had 24 for the Wolverines (7-7), who trailed 32-24 at halftime, then came back to win the Big Ten opener for both teams. Sean Mason scored 29 points for Wisconsin (12-2) before fouling out with 36.7 seconds remaining. But just 12 of his points came in the second half, with Reid guarding him. Bullock hit a 3-pointer with 6:28 remaining to pull Michigan into a tie for the fourth time at 44. Moments later, Chris Young blocked a shot as Mason tried to drive the lane and Bullock hit two free throws to give the Wolverines their first lead, 46-44. Reid sank his fifth 3-pointer with 2:58 remaining for a 51-47 lead. It was the last basket for the Wolverines as Reid and Bullock each hit four free throws down the stretch to offset two 3-pointers by Wisconsin’s Ty Calderwood. Mason, who needed just three points to become the 25th Wisconsin player to score 1,000 points, got them on his first shot 1:53 into the game. Actually, his first three baskets were 3-pointers and Mason had 17 at halftime.
Wisconsin has record start
The University of Wisconsin basketball team defeated Fresno State Sunday 87-65 to record its 12th win of the season. Wisconsin’s previous mark of 11-1 tied the 1993-94 Badgers for the best start at the school since 1930 (69 years). The last 12-1 team at Wisconsin was in 1929-30. The Badgers’ 10-game winning streak is the longest of the Bennett era and the second longest at the UW since the 1940-41 NCAA championship season. The 1993-94 team won 11 straight.
OSU, Wisconsin Series
Ohio State leads the all-time series against Wisconsin 74-53, which includes a 36-28 advantage in Madison. The Buckeyes earned their only Big Ten win of the season last year in Madison, 61-56. Ohio State is 3-2 in the last five meetings and 11-6 in the 1990s. The last time Ohio State faced a ranked Badgers squad was Feb. 5, 1994 when the Buckeyes defeated No. 16 Wisconsin 73-67.
OSU vs. the Big Ten
Ohio State will play its 1,200th game against the current alignment of Big Ten teams against Indiana Jan. 9 in Columbus. The Buckeyes earned its 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 in Columbus.
Big Ten Series Records Illinois 54-93 Indiana 63-92 Iowa 58-65 Michigan 75-66 Michigan State 43-49 Minnesota 66-50 Northwestern 94-44 Penn State 9-9 Purdue 64-77 Wisconsin 74-53 Totals 600-598
Dick Bennett at Wisconsin
Dick Bennett is in his fourth season as head coach of the Badgers after successful stints at Wisconsin-Stevens Point (173-80, .684) and Wisconsin-Green Bay (187-109, .632). He has compiled a record of 59-46 (.562) after the 12-2 start this season. Bennett has taken four teams to the NCAA Tournament and three to the NIT. Five of the last six seasons at Wisconsin-Green Bay, Bennett guided the his teams to postseason play. His first two squads at Wisconsin advanced to the NIT and NCAA respectively.
OSU three-point field goal streak extended to 198
Ohio State has connected on at least one three-point field goal attempt over the last 198 games. Sophomore Jon Sanderson extended the streak with a trey early in the first half against Miami. He is the fourth different player to extend the streak this season. Junior Scoonie Penn has extended the streak six times followed by sophomore Michael Redd (5) and freshman Brian Brown (2). 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 190-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.
Buckeye bits…
OSU is 11-0 when leading at the half…43 times members of the Buckeyes have scored in double figures this season, Michael Redd has been in double digits in each game, Scoonie Penn 11 times…Ten different Buckeyes have scored in double figures this season…Redd has scored in double figures in 43 of 44 career games, including the last 31…He has six career double-doubles after his 28-point, 12 rebound effort against UAB (12/21) in the first round of the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic.
Opponents shooting 39.6 percent
Ohio State has held 8 of 14 opponents under 40 percent shooting this season. Opponents are shooting just 39.6 percent overall from the field (311-786). Ohio State has been held under 40 percent just twice. Penn State allowed the Buckeyes to connect on 26 of 66 attempts for 39.4 percent and Miami held OSU to 36.2 percent (25-69). OSU is shooting 48.8 percent on the season (404-828).
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 about twice as many shots as its opponents (58-27) and has nearly doubled its foes in steals (126-74). Ken Johnson is the leading shot blocker with 35 while four Buckeyes have 10 or more steals. Jason Singleton leads with 29 thefts followed by Michael Redd (23), Scoonie Penn (21) and Brian Brown (18).
A pair of Buckeyes could reach 1,000 points this season
Two Buckeyes could reach 1,000 career points this season. Senior Jason Singleton (830) is just 170 short. Sophomore Michael Redd went over the 900 mark (911) with 19 vs. Mississippi. He is 70 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 215 at Ohio State leaving him 48 shy of 1,000 for his career.
Ohio State wins Puerto Rico Holiday Classic with win over Ole Miss
Scoonie Penn scored 20 points and Michael Redd added 19 as Ohio State beat Mississippi 67-62 Wednesday in the championship game of the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic. The Buckeyes (11-2) used big runs at the end of each half to win an eight-team tournament for the first time since 1961 when Ohio State boasted one of the best teams ever with Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek and a reserve named Bobby Knight. Mississippi (9-3) took a 34-33 lead on a 3-pointer by Michael White with 1:44 left in the first half. The Buckeyes scored eight points over the final 22 seconds of the half to take a 41-34 lead. Redd, the tournament MVP, started the run with two free throws. With five seconds remaining he made a short jumper and was fouled by Keith Carter. Redd’s free throw put the Buckeyes up 38-34. The ensuing inbounds pass was deflected into the hands of Penn who launched a 3-pointer from the corner which dropped in at the buzzer. The Rebels opened the second half with an 8-2 run, closing to 43-42 with 15:30 left. Jason Smith, who led the Rebels with 15 points, and Rahim Lockhart each had four points to the run. Lockhart, a reserve, added 14 points and nine rebounds. The score was tied 60-60 with 2:06 and the Buckeyes closed the game with a 7-2 run. Jason Singleton’s three-point play off a steal gave Ohio State a 64-60 lead with 29 seconds left. After the Rebels closed to within 64-62, Penn made two free throws with 16 seconds left and Redd made two more with just four seconds left. Ohio State reached the final with victories over Alabama-Birmingham and North Carolina State.
Noting the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic
- The Buckeyes won the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic Championship against Mississippi marking the first time Ohio State won in the finals of a three-day, eight-team tournament since the 1961-62 season when the Buckeyes won the LA Holiday Classic held in Los Angles, Calif. Ohio State beat Washington (59-49), UCLA (105-84) and USC (76-66). OSU, ranked No. 1 the entire season, finished 26-2 that year, losing in the NCAA Championship game to No. 2 Cincinnati (71-59).
- Ohio State will be faced its third SEC team of the season after downing Alabama 78-70 in Columbus Nov. 15 and falling on the road at Vanderbilt 92-86 in overtime Nov. 28. Ohio State is now 1-0 vs. Mississippi. The Buckeyes are 26-22 all-time against the SEC.
- Ohio State shot 54 percent from the field in the tournament (78-145), including a season high 66 percent against N.C. State (29-44).
- Prior to last week, last time Ohio State won a game outside the continental United States was Dec. 23, 1993 against Boston College in the Maui Classic. OSU won that contest 69-67 against No. 18 Boston College. The last Buckeye win during an in-season tournament was a 92-88 victory over Eastern Kentucky in the Casper Shootout held in Casper, Wyo., Dec. 28, 1995.
- Ohio State was playing for the first time in Puerto Rico.
- Ohio State is now 88-69 (.558) in neutral site contests.
- Michael Redd, who was honored by the Big Ten Conference as the leagues’ co-player of the week last Monday after a pair of 20+ scoring outings last week scored 20 or more points in each of his last four consecutive outings before being held to 19 points by Ole Miss.
- Jason Singleton, who was selected to the all-tournament team in Puerto Rico. He connected on 14-19 shots from the field for 74 percent accuracy. He also averaged 6.7 rebounds.
- Ohio State is now 11-0 in games the Buckeyes have led at the half.
- With 28 points and 12 rebounds vs. UAB (12/21) Michael Redd notched his first and the team’s first double-double of the season. Redd now has six career double doubles. His last prior to his effort against UAB was a 20-point, 11 rebound effort against Michigan (1/17/98). Jason Singleton added the second OSU double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds against N.C. State. He made all seven shots he took from the field as well against the Wolfpack.
- Redd is currently No. 5 all time in career scoring with a 21.2 average.
- The Buckeyes placed three players in double figures against Mississippi (Penn 20, Redd 19 and Singleton 11). It was the 10th time in 13 games OSU has had three or more players in double digits.
Three Buckeyes make Puerto Rico All-Tournament team
Sophomore Michael Redd was selected as the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic MVP while teammates Jason Singleton and Scoonie Penn joined him on the all-tournament team. Redd averaged 23.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, scoring 70 points in the three-day event. He connected on 53 percent of his shots from the field as well. Singleton, a senior forward, scored on 74 percent of his shots from the field (14-19) while averaging 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds. Penn, who led all scorers with 20 points in the championship game, averaged 16.7 points, while adding 15 assists and six steals. Penn also knocked down 80 percent of his free throws (16-20).
Noting the Buckeyes…
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 eight assists and six steals and just one turnover in 13.0 minutes a game this season…Has connected on his last 17 free throws, though has not been to the line this season…his one assist against Miami gave him 200 for his career.
Scoonie Penn…Needs 48 points to reach 1,000 for his career…has 11 double-digit scoring outings, including a season-high 24 at Toledo…has scored in double figures in 8 of last 9 games..is shooting 47.1 percent from the field (73-155), 39.7 percent from three-point range (29-73) and 76 percent from the foul line (40-53)…shot just 32 percent from three-point range at Boston College…has two or more threes in nine games…leads team in minutes played with 460 (32.9)…Big Ten Player of the Week (11/16)…has started all 70 games in which he has appeared…has at least one assist in all but one game in his career (Miami, 1/2/97)…voted to the all-tournament team in Puerto Rico.
Brian Brown…Third on team with 29 assists…has scored in every game…failed to record an assist for the first time in his career against Miami (12/27)…has played 14 or more minutes in every game, averages 19.5 minutes a contest…adds depth to the guard spots.
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…scored in double figures in back-to-back games.
Michael Redd…Needs 70 points to reach 1,000 for career…leads team with 19.4 ppg…Puerto Rico Holiday Classic MVP…also has 24 assists and 23 steals…set a career high with six steals against Miami…leads in rebounding with 6.2 rpg…second on team in minutes played with 30.3 mpg…has started all 44 OSU games in career…leads team with 97 FGs this season…had career high six three-pointers made vs. Oakland (11/13) and Florida Atlantic (12/17)…37 of 87 rebounds this season are on offensive end…has at least two rebounds in every game as a Buckeye (44).
Jason Singleton…Having a productive senior year…shooting .703 percent from the field (52-74)…connected on 73.7 percent of his shots in Puerto Rico (14-19) to earn a spot on the all-tournament team…hit 7 of 8 FTs to seal win over Alabama (11/15/98)…has played in 97 games at OSU…leads team with 2,386 career minutes…has connected on at least 60 percent of his shots from the field in 10 of 14 games this season.
Devon Smith…Has appeared in four games…played 10 minutes in win over Army (11/22/98).
Kwadjo Steele…Had career high four points against Florida-Atlantic…knocked down first career three-pointer against UT Martin…has seen action in six games…scored two points in opener against Oakland…grabbed three boards in win over Army.
Ken Johnson…Had career-high 11 rebounds against Miami (12/27)…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 35 blocks…seventh on all-time list with 93…has at least one block in 33 games as a Buckeye and 12 of 14 this year…Needs one rebound for 200 in career.
Jon Sanderson…Connected on 7 of 7 shots against Florida Atlantic (12/17)…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 42 of 44 career games as a Buckeye.
George Reese…Top player off the bench…in the game when it counts…made all six FT attempts against Vanderbilt…capable of giving team a boost both on the offensive and defensive end of the floor…has two double figure scoring games and six games with nine points.
Will Dudley…Has appeared in 12 of 14 games this season…shooting 67 percent from the field (12-18)…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 six games this season with high of 13 minutes against Army…had seven rebounds vs. the Cadets…24 of his 55 career rebounds have been on the offensive end of the floor.
Buckeyes Celebrating 100 Years
Ohio State celebrates 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
