Men’s Basketball Welcomes The Catamounts of Vermont to The Value City Arena – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/23/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 23, 1999
No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (1-0)
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.
Vermont Catamounts
Probable Starters (0-2)
G 24-David Roach. 5-11, Jr.
G 14-Tony Orciari, 6-2, Sr.
C 20-Craig Peper, 6-8, Sr.
F 45-Trevor Gaines, 6-9, So.
F 12-Tobe Carberry, 6-2, Sr.
1999 Final Four banner unveiled
A banner celebrating the 1999 Final Four appearance by the Ohio State men’s basketball team will be unveiled in a pregame ceremony Nov. 29 vs. Vermont (8 p.m. tipoff). The banner will hang at Value City Arena throughout the 1999-00 season and then will be moved to the Ohio State practice facility. Other banners also will be permanently displayed at Value City Arena beginning with the Vermont men’s basketball game. Five men’s basketball banners will be in place celebrating OSU’s Big Ten Championships (15), NCAA Tournament appearances (19), Final Four appearances (9), the 1960 NCAA Championship and the NCAA second-place finishes (3). Four women’s basketball and three hockey banners also will be displayed. The women’s banners will highlight Big Ten Championships (8), NCAA Tournament appearances (11), Final Four appearances (1) and NCAA second-place finishes (1). Hockey banners will hang in honor of Frozen Four appearances (1), CCHA Championships (1) and NCAA Tournament appearances (2).
Notre Dame buzzer-beater downs OSU
David Graves’ 15-foot jumper at the buzzer gave Notre Dame a 59-57 upset of No. 4 Ohio State in the opening round of the Preseason NIT. Graves, who finished with 18 points, dribbled from the backcourt to the left wing, fumbled for the ball for a split second and got off the shot as the buzzer sounded. Ohio State pulled even on a three-point play by Scoonie Penn with 18 seconds left. Troy Murphy led the Irish with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Martin Ingelsby added 14 points. Only four players scored and only six even attempted a shot for Notre Dame, which won despite committing 25 turnovers. Penn led the Buckeyes with 15 points, followed by Michael Redd with 11. Ohio State had a horrible shooting night, making just 22 of 66 shots for 33 percent. Still, a 9-0 run midway through the second half gave the Buckeyes a 41-34 lead. That surge was spurred by the team’s Yugoslavia connection, Boban Savovic and Cobe Ocokoljic. The Buckeyes had missed nine of their previous 11 shots before George Reese hit a 15-foot jumper, Ocokoljic drove the lane for a bucket, Reese dunked inside off an assist from Savovic and Savovic then buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key. But Notre Dame wouldn’t go away and took the lead at 54-51 on Ingelsby’s 3-pointer with 1:47 left. The Irish added to that on a bucket by Murphy with just under a minute to play before Penn hit two free throws with 35 seconds left to cut it to 56-54. After Redd missed the wide-open layup with 29 seconds left, Murphy hit a foul shot two seconds later to set the stage for the wild finish.
Noting the Notre Dame game
Ohio State falls to 0-1 on the season with the 59-57 loss toNotre Dame. OSU is now 0-3 all-time in the Preseason NIT after theloss. OSU leads the series with the Fighting Irish, 6-5. OSU fallsto 85-16 in home openers. The Buckeyes are 1-1 in home openers atValue City Arena and 15-2 overall in the second-year facility. OhioState, ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press at the time of the NDgame, fell to 186-48 when ranked in the AP top 10. Ohio State holdsa 49-30 edge over Big East foes following the loss to ND. WithMichael Redd’s 3-pointer early in the first half, Ohio State nowhas connected on at least one 3-point goal in 221-consecutivegames. The last time an OSU team missed all attempts from 3-pointrange was Feb. 2, 1992, when the Buckeyes went 0 for 5 in a 68-58OSU win against Michigan. Ken Johnson blocked five shots in thecontest, giving him 163 for his career. Currently in fourth placeon the all-time OSU blocked shot chart, Johnson is just six blocksaway from third place, held by Jim Smith at 169. Cobe Ocokoljicnotched his first career points with a runner in the lane in thesecond half. Ocokoljic finished with five points and four reboundsin 18 minutes of play off the bench. After his 11-pointperformance, Michael Redd has reached double figures in 65 of his67 career games. Redd has 19-consecutive double figure scoringgames. The last time he failed to reach the double figure plateauwas Jan. 16, 1999, at Michigan when he tallied eight points. BobanSavovic drilled three 3-point goals, tying a career best which heset twice last year, last against Wisconsin (1/2/99). Savovic alsoset a career high for 3-point goals attempted with eight, breakinghis previous record of six, set in last year’s NCAA Tournamentcontest vs. Detroit (3/13/99). After failing to hit a 3-pointer,Scoonie Penn’s streak of 14 consecutive games with a madethree-pointer ended.
Vermont opens with tough schedule
The Catamounts of Vermont started the season with a difficult season, facing half of the 1999 Final Four field in the first four games. Vermont opened the season at Connecticut Nov. 19. The Huskies, after an opening season loss to Iowa, cruised to an 89-52 victory. Ten players scored for Vermont in that game, but only two reached double figures. Center Craig Peper and guard Trevor Gaines scored 12 and 10 points, respectively, to lead the Catamounts. Vermont then traveled to Yale Nov. 21(L 72-69) and Boston College (Nov. 23) before arriving in Columbus for the meeting with the Buckeyes.
Gaines leads Vermont in early going
Vermont’s Trevor Gaines (6-7, So., F., Farmington Hills, Mich.) leads the Catamounts in scoring after the first two games of the season at 14.0 ppg. Games scored 10 points in the opener against Connecticut and then had a team-high 18 in the loss to Yale (72-69).
Brennan in 14th season at Vermont
Tom Brennan is the dean of the America East basketball coaches in this his 14th season at Vermont. He owns the second longest tenure with the Catamounts and is the second all-time winningest coach with 147 victories at the helm. His teams have won 129 games in the 1990s, marking the most productive decade in Vermont’s 100 year history.
OSU meeting with Vermont 3rd in history
The Buckeyes and Catamounts have met twice before with each team winning one game on its home court. The teams have not played since the 1977 season when Vermont claimed a 77-76 victory at home (12/3/77). The Buckeyes won 90-72 in 1975 in Columbus (12/13/75).
Ohio State 4-2 vs. the America East
Ohio State has faced five of the 10 members of the America East Conference and has a 4-2 overall record against the league. Vermont is the only school to meet the Buckeyes more than once. Vermont owns a 1-1 record against the Buckeyes. The Catamounts and Northeastern University are the only America East members to post victories over the Buckeyes.
American East vs. OSU
Boston University N/A
Delaware 1-0
Drexel 1-0
Hartford N/A
Hofstra N/A
Maine N/A
New Hampshire N/A
Northeastern 0-1
Towson State 1-0
Vermont 1-1
Totals 4-2
Lucas named to SI All-Century Team
Ohio State basketball legend Jerry Lucas (1960-62) was selected to the Sports Illustrated All-Century Team, one of only five players to be so honored. Lucas is joined on the team by Bill Bradley (Princeton, 1963-65), David Thompson (N.C. State, 1973-75), Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati 1958-60) and Lew Alcindor (UCLA, 1967-69). Lucas averaged 24.3 points a game in his OSU career and an astounding 17.2 rebounds a contest. He was a three-time All-America selection and the Big Ten’s only three-time player of the year. Lucas’ 1,411 career rebounds stands as the career record. His 17.2 average also is a career record. He averaged 17.8 rebounds as a senior, which stands as the OSU single season record.
Penn named 1st Team AP All-American
Senior guard Scoonie Penn was named to the Associated Press Preseason First Team All-America team. Penn joins Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State, Terence Morris, Maryland, Chris Porter, Auburn and Quentin Richardson, DePaul.
VCA sold out for 1999-00 Big Ten season
The entire 1999-00 home Big Ten men’s basketball season at Value City Arena is sold out. All 19,100 seats are sold this year, including 4,000 student season tickets. A total of 10,000 student season ticket applications were submitted for the 4,000 available seats. Split season tickets were distributed to 8,000 students who submitted applications this year. Last season 650 student season tickets were sold. The Buckeyes averaged 17,228 fans last season. Ohio State was 14-1 in its first season a VCA.
Tickets available for December games
Tickets are currently on sale for the Black Coaches Association Classic doubleheader, Dec. 4th. Ohio State will host Duquesne at 8 p.m. following Youngstown State vs. Kent State at 5:30 p.m. Ohio State has about 1,000 tickets available for this game. Prices are $22, $19, $16, $14 and $12. Tickets are available because Ohio State could not include it in all season ticket packages because each participating school is guaranteed an allotment of tickets. Tickets remaining were not utilized by the schools involved in the BCA Classic. Tickets are available for all games in December because these games are all played when OSU students are on break. Ohio State included on the student application an opportunity for all students to buy these games, however, many are not in Columbus during break. Tickets available for these games are those not purchased by students. These tickets go on sale Nov. 29. OSU men’s basketball games with tickets available include: Florida A&M (Dec. 11), Coastal Carolina (Dec. 13), Eastern Kentucky (Dec. 19), Toledo (Dec. 22), Oakland (Dec. 27) and American University (Dec. 29).
Buckeyes sign three for 2000-01
Jim O’Brien, Ohio State head men’s basketball coach, announced the signing of three highly recruited players to be added to the Buckeye program. Matt Marinchick (Hudson, Ohio), Velimir Radinovic (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and Zach Williams (Middle Village, N.Y.) all signed letters of intent Nov. 11.
Marinchick (Ma-RIN-chick), a 6-10 center from Hudson (Ohio) H.S. is ranked No. 20 nationally at his position by Athlons Sports. He led his high school team with 12.8 points per game as a junior.
Radinovic (VEL-ah-mere Ra-DIN-o-vich) is a 7-0 center/forward from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Last season, he averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds at T.A. Blakelock High School in Toronto.
Williams, a 6-6 power forward comes to Ohio State as the No. 4-ranked player in New York. Williams, of Christ the King High School, averaged 15 points and eight rebounds on his high school team that was ranked No. 3 in the nation last season
Penn, Redd earn preseason Big Ten recognition by both coaches and media
Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn (Salem, Mass./Salem) was selected as the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by the league coaches during the conference-sponsored media day.
Michigan State senior Mateen Cleaves was selected by the Big Ten media as its preseason player of the year candidate. Ironically, the coaches tabbed Cleaves the Big Ten Player of the Year at the conclusion of last season while the media selected Penn. Penn along with OSU junior Michael Redd (Columbus, Ohio/West) were both selected as first team all-conference members by both the media and coaches.
The coaches also added Cleaves and Morris Peterson of Michigan State to the first team along with A.J. Guyton of Indiana. The media selected a similar first team but replaced Guyton with Cory Bradford of Illinois. League coaches picked Michigan State to win the conference this year followed by Ohio State, Illinois, Purdue and Indiana. The media picked MSU, Ohio State and Illinois as its top three.
Buckeyes spend last 13 weeks in AP poll
Ohio State spent the final 10 weeks of the 1998-99 season and the first three weeks of 1999-00 ranked among the Top 25 teams nationally in the Associated Press Poll. The Buckeyes finished No. 14 in the AP and No. 4 in the ESPN/USA Today polls. OSU is currently 12th in the AP Poll (11/22/99).
Redd, Penn named OSU captains
Senior Scoonie Penn and junior Michael Redd were named team captains during preseason camp. It will be the second season Penn has served in that capacity at Ohio State. He along with seniors Neshaun Coleman and Jason Singleton served last season. Redd will be serving his first season as an OSU captain.
Both Buckeye captains named to Wooden Awards watch list
Scoonie Penn along with running mate Michael Redd were named Wooden Award preseason All-Americans. The OSU guard tandem is among the 25 of the nation’s elite players to be considered for the award.
Penn, Redd listed on several preseason All-America lists
Buckeye senior Scoonie Penn is listed on several first team All-America teams. Some of the publications or preseason pollsters who have deemed Penn among the nation’s best include: Sport Magazine, Athlon Sports, Basketball Times, Street & Smith’s and Blue Ribbon. Lindy’s picks Penn and junior Michael Redd as First Team all-Big Ten Conference selections. Redd has been consistently deemed a second team nomination in most of the preseason publications.
Three new players ready for action, two additional faces sitting out
Three new eligible players will see action this season for the Buckeyes. Sophomore Doylan Robinson (Akron, Ohio/Buchtel) is eligible for the first time this season after sitting out his freshman campaign with the Buckeyes. Freshmen Brent Darby (6-0, River Rouge, Mich./River Rouge) and Slobodan “Cobe” Ocokoljic (Kraljevo, Yugoslavia/Massillon (OH) Washington) also are ready to contribute for the Buckeyes. Cobe (CHO-bay) is a nickname given by OSU’s other Slobodan, sophomore “Boban” Savovic. Two additional players are practicing with the Buckeyes this season but will not be eligible until next year. Sophomores Tim Martin, who played at Kent, and Sean Connolly, a transfer from Providence, are working out with the Buckeyes.
Penn sets 3-point shooting record
Scoonie Penn connected on 88 of 229 (.384) 3-pointers last season to place his name at the top of the single season record list at OSU for made 3-pointers and attempts. After two seasons at Boston College and one at Ohio State, Penn has connected on 192 of 552 3-pointers (.348).
OSU 3-point field goal streak extended to 221
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 221 games. Junior Michael Redd extended the streak with a trey early in the first half against Notre Dame. 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 213-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.
