Men’s Basketball Prepares For First Of Two Preseason Contests – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 4, 1999
Ohio State Men’s Basketball vs. One World All Stars
OSU Probable Starters (0-0) 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.
One World loses opener to Fordham
The One World All Stars dropped their opener, 72-71, at Fordham to start the exhibition season Oct. 30 in the Bronx, N.Y. Fordham jumped to a 40-28 halftime lead but was outscored 43-32 in the second half to narrowly escape with a victory. One World was led by 6-foot former St. Francis (N.Y.) guard John Thomas. He scored 19 points in a team-high 32 minutes. Three other players scored in double figures for One World. Garee Bryant, formerly of CW Post (N.Y.) scored 16 followed by 10 points each from Jermaine Smith and Kashif Hameed. Neither Smith nor Hameed will be playing in Columbus against the Buckeyes. One World will continue its schedule Saturday at Cleveland State. One World also will face DePaul (Nov. 12), Seton Hall (Nov. 13) and Providence (Nov. 14).
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 Sunday in Chicago 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 return most of 1998-99 offensive, defensive firepower
When the Buckeyes open the 1999-00 season against Notre Dame (Nov. 16), the Buckeyes will have over 70 percent of nine statistical categories returning from last year. Offensively, Ohio State returns nearly 77 percent of its points and assists. Defensively, the Buckeyes return 83 percent of its blocks and 70 percent in the steals category.
1998-99 Numbers Returning
Points, 2,048 of 2,695 76.6 pct. Rebounds, 974 of 1,303 74.2 pct. Assists, 385 of 498 77.3 pct. Blocks, 124 of 148 83.4 pct. Steals, 208 of 297 70.0 pct. Minutes, 5,323 of 7,275 73.2 pct. Field Goals, 736 of 986 74.6 pct. 3-pointers, 170 of 218 78.0 pct. Free Throws, 406 of 505 80.4 pct.
Buckeyes spend last 10 weeks in AP poll
Ohio Spent the final 10 weeks of the 1998-99 season ranked among the Top 15 teams nationally in the Associated Press Poll. The Buckeyes finished No. 14 in the AP and No. 4 in the ESPN/USA Today polls. Ohio State is consistently ranked among the Top 10 teams nationally in a variety of preseason polls this year.
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 Award 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.
Buckeyes second in NCAA history for one-season turnaround
The Buckeyes left the Final Four with a record just short of the NCAA record for one-season turnarounds. OSU, 8-22 in 1997-98, improved by 16 games (27-9), which is the second best jump by any school since the NCAA began keeping the statistic in 1974. The record (16.5) is held by North Carolina A&T from 3-24 to 20-8 in 1978, Murray State from 4-22 to 23-8 in 1980 and Liberty from 5-23 to 22-7 in 1992 but none made the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State’s Ninth Final Four
Coach Jim O’Brien guided Ohio State into its ninth Final Four appearance and its first since 1968 when Olympian and Academic All-American Bill Hosket led the Buckeyes to a third-place finish. Ohio State’s nine Final Four appearances – 1939-44-45-46-60-61-62-68-99 – represents the sixth-highest total in NCAA history, trailing only UCLA (15), North Carolina (14), Kentucky (13), Duke (12) and Kansas (10).
From 8-22 to the Final Four
Ohio State was 8-22 and 1-15 in the Big Ten Conference in Jim O’Brien’s first season as coach (1997-98). OSU left the 1999 Final Four with a school-record-tieing 27 wins against just nine defeats. Only one school has had a worse winning percentage one year (OSU’s .266 mark in 1998) and then advance to the Final Four the next year: The 1940 Wisconsin Badgers had a .250 winning percentage (5-15) but bounced back to win the 1941 Final Four.
Ohio State sets record for games played in a single season
Ohio State played in 36 games in 1998-99 (27-9). That total is a school record breaking the 34 games played (19-15) during the 1988-89 season. The Buckeyes advanced to the third round of the NIT Tournament that season before losing to St. John’s in overtime, 83-80 March 23, 1989.
O’Brien enjoyed most successful season as head coach
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien directed the Buckeyes to a 27-win season. O’Brien’s previous single-season high for wins came during the 1993-94 season when he guided Boston College to a 23-11 campaign and a trip to the NCAA regional finals.
O’Brien 7th coach to take OSU to the NCAA Tournament
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien, the 1999 Big Ten and NABC (Co-) Coach of the Year, is the seventh head coach at Ohio State to guide his team to NCAA Tournament. 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 team 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.
Noting the Buckeyes
Ohio State won a school record-tieing 27 games for only thethird time in school history. The previous two seasons are: 1961(27-1) and 1991 (27-4). The 36 games played this season (27-9) is aschool record as well. Ohio State defeated 10 ranked opponents in13 tries. Ohio State had a six game winning streak against teamsranked in the Associated Press Top 25 before falling to No. 3 UConnat the Final Four. The win over No. 4 Auburn (3/18) was OSU’s firstwin over a Top 5 team since the Buckeyes defeated No. 1 IndianaFeb. 23, 1993, 81-77. The win over No. 9 St. John’s gave Ohio Stateback-to-back wins over Top 25 teams for the first time in schoolhistory. The 10 wins over ranked opponents is a school record forsingle season success over ranked foes. Sophomore Michael Redd hasscored 1,361 career points leaving him 48 points away from movingpassed Larry Bolden (1974-77) on the all-time career scoring listat Ohio State. Bolden scored 1,408 points and is currently No. 17on the all-time list. Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien is now 9-4in NCAA Tournament games after the 4-1 effort in 1999. It wasO’Brien’s first Final Four appearance. Ohio State junior ScooniePenn added to his school records for 3-pointers made and attemptedin a single season with a 2 of 7 outing from long range againstConnecticut. Penn has made 88 of 229 3-pointers. Penn moved up thesingle season assists chart with four against the Huskies. He holdsdown the No. 6 spot with 154. His 70 steals this season is No. 3 onthe all-time list in single season steals. Michael Redd set afreshman scoring record with 658 points as a freshman, the 11thhighest single season scoring mark at OSU. He moved past thateffort with his 22 points against Auburn, 20 vs. St. John’s and 15against UConn to give him 703 as a sophomore. His single seasonpoint total last year ranks No. 6 behind Jerry Lucas’ 710 points in1959-60. Ohio State won 19 more games last season than it did in1997-98 (8-22). The 19-game improvement is an OSU record forturnarounds from one season to the next. Ohio State set a singleseason record for team steals after adding five againstConnecticut. The Buckeyes recorded 297 thefts last year topping the281 recorded during the 1986-87 season. OSU built on its singleseason record for 3-pointers made (218) and attempted (611) after a3 of 14 effort against UConn. Ohio State senior Ken Johnsonrecorded three blocks against UConn to give him 100 on the season.That total is good for the No 1 spot all time in a single season onthe OSU block charts. Scoonie Penn scored 609 points last yearafter an 11-point effort at the Final Four vs. Connecticut. He andrunning mate Michael Redd (703 points) became only the third OSUduo to score 600 or more in the same season. The Buckeyes haveconnected on at least one 3-pointer in the last 220 games. BobanSavovic extended the streak at the 13:56 mark vs. UConn. The OhioState guard trio of Michael Redd, Scoonie Penn and Brian Browncombined for 53 assists and just 24 turnovers in NCAA Tournamentplay for a 2.4 assist to turnover ratio.
1998-99 Buckeyes one of best OSU offensive teams ever
Ohio State scored 2,695 points this season good for the No. 3 spot all time in scoring at Ohio State. The 1988-89 team is second with 2,720 points. The No. 1 1986-97 squad scored 2,802 points (84.9 ppg.). The Buckeyes averaged 74.9 ppg. this season. In the Top 5 scoring seasons at Ohio State four Buckeye teams reached 100 points at least once in a single game. OSU did not score 100 points last season.
O’Brien earns Big Ten Coach of the Year
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien was selected by the Big Ten media as the Coach of the Year in the Big Ten. O’Brien has now won similar league awards in the Atlantic 10 at St. Bonaventure, the Big East at Boston College and now the Big Ten after guiding the Buckeyes in just his second season to a 27-9 overall record and a Big Ten mark of 12-4. O’Brien directed his eighth team into the postseason and his fourth to NCAA Tournament play. O’Brien is the fourth OSU coach to earn Big Ten accolades. Randy Ayers won the honor twice in 1991 and 1992 and Eldon Miller in 1983.
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).
Redd joins 500-point club 2nd time
Buckeye junior Michael Redd reached the single-season 500-point mark for the second time in his career. He scored 658 points as a freshman, the 11th highest single-season scoring mark at OSU. He entered the NCAA Tournament with 604 points and increased that total by 99 to 703. He became the ninth Buckeye to score 500 or more twice. Redd’s single season total last year ranks sixth all time. Only Jerry Lucas has managed 500 or more three times.
Redd just 4th Buckeye to score 600+ points twice, 6th to reach 700 Michael Redd has now eclipsed the 600-point mark in a single season twice. He scored a freshman record 658 points and finished with 703 this season. Only all-time leading scorer Dennis Hopson (690 in 1986 and 958 in 1987), Jerry Lucas (710 in 1960, 671 in 1961, 609 in 1962) and Gary Bradds (672 in 1963 and 735 in 1964) have managed 600 or more twice. Lucas is the only one to do it three times. Redd’s 703 points was the sixth highest single season total in OSU history and only the sixth time a player scored 700 or more in a single season. No player has done it more than once.
Penn reaches 500-point mark
Scoonie Penn reached 500 points with his first free throw of the game against Michigan in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. He averaged 16.9 points in 1998-99. His 609 points made him just the 31st player to reach 500 points in a single season and just the 16th to score 600 or more. Penn tied for 14th on the single season scoring charts with Jerry Lucas, who scored 609 points in 1961-62.
Penn, Redd post dual 500-point seasons for first time in 11 years
Michael Redd and Scoonie Penn became just the sixth duo from the same team in OSU history to score 500 or more points in the same season and just the third pair to eclipse 600 in the same campaign. Redd led the Buckeyes with 703 points (1905 ppg.) in 1998-99. Penn had 609 points and a 16.9 scoring average. Redd and Penn are the first to accomplish 500+ seasons since the 1987-88 season when Jay Burson (625) and Jerry Francis (507) managed 500 or more. The pair are the first 600+ since 1986 when Dennis Hopson (690) and Brad Sellers (653) turned the trick. Redd became the 30th OSU player to reach 500 points in a single season, Penn is No. 31. Redd has scored 500+ in both his seasons as a Buckeye. Redd is the 15th to reach 600 and just the sixth to score 700+.
Year Players Pts. 1999 Michael Redd/ 703 Scoonie Penn 609 1988 Jay Burson/ 625 Jerry Francis 507 1986 Dennis Hopson/ 690 Brad Sellers 653 1979 Kelvin Ransey/ 664 Herb Williams 617 1970 Dave Sorenson/ 581 Jim Cleamons 518 1968 Bill Hosket/ 584 Steve Howell 507
Redd reaches OSU milestone
Michael Redd (1,361) became just the third sophomore in Ohio State history to reach 1,000 points after his 30-point effort against Purdue (1/19/99). Herb Williams (1978-81) and Jim Jackson (1990-92) are the only other Buckeyes to reach 1,000 points at OSU as sophomores. Only five players have scored 1,000 points in their first two seasons at OSU. In addition to Williams and Jackson, Jerry Lucas (1960-62), Dave Sorenson (1968-70) and Brad Sellers (1985-86) each reached 1,000 points in their second year at Ohio State. Lucas and Sorenson were juniors who were not eligible as freshman and Sellers was a senior. He transferred from Wisconsin.
Redd second quickest to 1,000
Buckeye legend Jerry Lucas (1960-62) reached 1,000 points during a 30-point effort against Northwestern Jan. 14, 1961 in his 38th game as a Buckeye. Michael Redd is just the second Buckeye to reach 1,000 points in less than 50 games. He has played in 65 games at Ohio State and has scored 1,346 points.
Two-year OSU 1,000+ scorers
Career 2-Yr. Gms to Player Pts. Total 1,000 Jerry Lucas 1,990 1,381 38 Michael Redd 1,361 1,361 49 Dave Sorenson 1,622 1,041 52 Herb Williams 2,011 1,069 54 Brad Sellers 1,122 1,122 58 Jim Jackson 1,785 1,067 59
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 in Columbus.
Illinois 55-93 Indiana 65-92 Iowa 59-66 Michigan 77-67 Michigan State 43-50 Minnesota 67-50 Northwestern 95-44 Penn State 9-10 Purdue 66-77 Wisconsin 76-53 Totals 612-602
OSU 3-point field goal streak extended to 220
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 220 games. Sophomore Boban Savovic extended the streak at the 13:56 mark of the first half against UConn at the Final Four. 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 212-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.
Miscellaneous notes
Ohio State finished its inaugural season at Value City Arenawith a 14-1 record, winning the last five games in the homearena.
With his 99 points scored in the NCAA Tournament, Michael Reddmoved into 18th place in all-time scoring at Ohio State. Reddcurrently has 1,361 points after just 66 career games. He hasnotched double figure scoring in all but two of those games.
Ohio State is now 11-3 when Redd (20 vs. St. John’s) and Penn (22)combine for 40 or more points. The Buckeyes are 5-2 vs. Big Tenteams when this feat is accomplished.
Buckeyes 11-3 when Redd, Penn combine for 40+ points
Sophomore Michael Redd and junior Scoonie Penn have combined to score 40+ in 14 games. The Buckeyes are 11-3 in those contests.
40+ games for Redd/Penn combo
Redd/Penn- Date Opp. Score Total 11/13 Oakland W 89-61 29/17-46 11/15 Alabama W 78-70 17/23-40 12/5 at Toledo L 64-63 16/24-40 12/17 Fla.-Atlantic W 99-70 26/21-47 12/21 vs. UAB W 71-64 28/14-42 1/2 Wisconsin W 78-74 ot 30/18-48 1/23 Minnesota W 89-60 19/24-43 2/9 Michigan W 74-69 22/21-43 2/13 at Iowa W 73-69 22/27-49 2/25 Wisconsin W 63-54 14/30-44 2/27 at Penn St. L 98-85 26/22-48 3/6 vs. Illinois L 79-77 32/15-47 3/18 vs. Auburn W 72-65 22/26-48 3/20 vs. St. John’s W 77-74 20/22-42
Ohio State Buckeyes
No. Name Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Cl.
4 Brent Darby G 6-0 200 Fr. Won a pair of Michigan State titles at River Rouge HS 10 Doylan Robinson G 6-4 210 So. Ready to contribute after sitting out last season at OSU 12* “Scoonie” Penn G 5-10 185 Sr. Everybody’s preseason All-American…1999 media Big Ten Player of the Yr. 13 Brian Brown G 6-3 190 So. Started last five games in 1998-99, all in the NCAA Tournament 21 “Boban” Savovic G 6-5 230 So. Improved on size and strength in offseason…efforts not evident in box score 22* Michael Redd G 6-6 215 Jr. Offensive machine…Could be best one-on-one player in the country 24 Devon Smith G 6-0 175 Sr. Earned a scholarship after a walk-on season last year 31 Kwadjo Steele F 6-6 210 Sr. Recovering from offseason shoulder surgery 32 Ken Johnson C 6-11 235 Sr. A nationally dominating shot blocker…Had OSU record 100 last year 34 “Cobe” Ocokoljic F 6-8 210 Fr. Could step in and play significant minutes…Quality scorer inside and out 40 George Reese F 6-7 240 Sr. Improved offensive game over the summer…Defensive stopper in the lane 43 Will Dudley F 6-8 230 So. Ready to contribute after missing most of freshman season with broken foot * Co-captains
One World Roster No. Name Pos. Hgt. College 10 Isiah Francis G 6-3 LIU 15 John Thomas G 6-0 St. Francis (New York) 21 Brian Pannuzzo F 6-6 St. Michael’s 22 Neshaun Coleman G 6-3 Ohio State 23 Garee Bryant G 6-3 CW Post (New York) 32 Jamal Phillips F 6-7 Rutgers 33 Brian Thompson F 6-6 Florida 44 Ulysses Morgan F/C 6-8 NE Illinois 45 Lorenzo Pearson C 6-9 Miami (Fla.) 50 PG Green F 6-6 West Virginia 55 Duane Posey F 6-8 Hofstra
