Men’s Basketball Hits The Hardwood To Take On American – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/29/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 29, 1999
No. 15 Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (7-2)
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 34-Cobe Ocokoljic, 6-8, Fr.
American Eagles
Probable Starters (5-4)
G 0-Jarion Childs, 6-0, Sr.
G 23-Hasheem Alexander, 6-3, Fr.
C 13-Saliou-Binet Telly, 6-8, Jr.
F 30-Tim Washington, 6-8, Fr.
F 32-Patrick Doctor, 6-8, So.
Brown has career night against Oakland
It’s really no mystery why Brian Brown scored a career-best 21 points as No. 15 Ohio State beat Oakland 76-50. Nobody guarded him. Oakland coach Greg Kampe elected to double the defensive pressure on the Buckeyes’ standout guard tandem of Michael Redd and Scoonie Penn. The strategy worked, with a variety of junk defenses limiting them to 12 total points as Redd was held under 10 points for the first time in 27 games. But Brown made the Golden Grizzlies pay. Brown scored 16 of his points in the first half, including 10 in a row as the Buckeyes went on a 20-2 run to halftime. Brown hit 8 of 9 shots from the field, making both of his 3-point attempts and all three free throws. The sophomore guard also had four assists. The Buckeyes came in shooting 44 percent from the field and had topped 50 percent only once. They had difficulty early against Oakland’s box-and-one and triangle-and-two defenses, but broke the game open with its muscle inside and quickness on the perimeter. Redd, Ohio State’s top scorer at 15.8 points a game, didn’t score in the opening half and finished with just four points. He had failed to score at least 10 points in only two of his previous 74 career games. Penn, averaging 15.6 points a game, hit all but one of his four shots and finished with eight. Reserve George Reese scored 14 points, Brent Darby had 12 and freshman Cobe Ocokoljic, who made his first career start in place of Reese, had 10. Mychal Covington led Oakland with 15 points, while Brad Buddenborg added 11.
Noting the win over Oakland
Ohio State improves to 7-2 with the 76-50 triumph over Oakland(2-10). The Buckeyes improve to 21-2 all-time at Value City Arena,with two of those wins coming over Oakland. The Golden Grizzliesare the first opponent to make two visits to Value City Arena.Brian Brown set a career high in scoring with 21 points on 8-of-9shooting, topping his previous high of 18, set vs. Coastal Carolinaearlier this season (12/13/99). The 21-point performance ties thehigh for an Ohio State player this season. Scoonie Penn alsotallied 21 vs. Coastal Carolina. Ohio State shot a season-high 58.8percent from the field. The previous high was 54.4 percent vs.Florida A&M. Freshman Cobe Ocokoljic made his first careerstart, marking the first time OSU used a different starting lineupthis season. Ohio State has now connected on at least onethree-point field goal in each of the last 229 games afterOcokoljic drilled a trey early in the first half. Ken Johnsonbecame just the second player in OSU history to reach the200-blocked shot plateau in his career after blocking one shottonight. Johnson stands second in the OSU record book to HerbWilliams (328). Ohio State held Oakland to 17 points in the firsthalf, a season low for an OSU opponent. The previous low was 20,set by Duquesne (12/4/99). The Buckeyes also held the GoldenGrizzlies to a season-low point total. The Grizzlies’ previous lowwas 51 at Michigan State (12/18/99). Ohio State went on a 19-0 runover the final 5:21 of the first half and the first 1:50 of thesecond half, turning a three-point game open into a 22-point game.Michael Redd scored a career-low four points, snapping his streakof consecutive double-figure scoring contests at 26. His previousscoring low was eight, set at Michigan last season (1/16/99). OhioState drilled a season-high eight three-point field goals. TheBuckeyes hit seven at Kansas (12/16/99) for their previous high.Kwadjo Steele made his first appearance of the season aftersuffering a shoulder injury during the summer. Steele scored twopoints in the contest. Ohio State continued to spread its scoringaround, as four Buckeyes registered double figures in scoring forthe seventh-consecutive game. Brian Brown (21), George Reese (14),Brent Darby (12) and Cobe Ocokoljic (10) each broke into doublefigures. Darby’s 12 points are a career high, breaking his previousrecord of 10, set vs. Eastern Kentucky (12/19/99).
OSU guards successful at foul line
The Ohio State guard trio of Michael Redd, Scoonie Penn and Brian Brown have been deadly from the foul line this season. Redd has made 21 of 23 shots (.913) followed by Brown (20-24, .833) and Penn (34-42, .810). Combined, the three have made 75 of 89 for 84.3 pct. accuracy.
Ocokoljic first freshman to start since Brown in 1999 NCAA Tournament
When OSU freshman Cobe Ocokoljic took the floor in a starting role against Oakland (12/27) it marked the first time a freshman started for OSU since Brian Brown started his first game against Murray State (3/11/99) in the opening round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament. Brown has since started the last 14 games for the Buckeyes. OSU junior Michael Redd started all 30 Buckeye games his freshman year (1997-98).
Penn passes Redd on career 3-pointers list at Ohio State
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd has connected on 103 of 320 (.322) career 3-pointers at Ohio State. Senior Scoonie Penn, in two seasons as a Buckeye, has knocked down 105 of 284 (.370) at OSU. Penn has made 209 of 607 (.344) 3-pointers in his career, which includes two seasons at Boston College.
Johnson records 200th career block, now 12th on Big Ten list
Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 200 career blocks in his career after swatting one shot against Oakland. Johnson became just the second Buckeye and the 12th Big Ten player to reach 200 career blocks. Herb Williams (1977-81) leads OSU and is fourth all-time among Big Ten players with 328 rejections.
Redd 82 points away from OSU Top 10
Redd moved into 14th place all-time at OSU in scoring with 17 points against Toledo (12/22). With 82 more points this season, he will crack the OSU Top 10 list in career scoring. Buckeye great Allen Hornyak (1971-73) is currently 10th on the scoring list with 1,572 career points.
Opposing offenses struggle
The Buckeye defense has managed to hold six of the nine opponents this season under 40 percent from the field and all opponents to a combined 35.6 percent (186-522). Only Notre Dame (.500), Coastal Carolina (.441) and Kansas (.477) have managed to shoot over 40 percent against the Buckeyes. Three teams–Duquesne (.283), Florida A&M (.224) and Eastern Kentucky (.242)–managed a shooting percentage in the 20s.
Penn, Johnson, Buckeyes leading Big Ten in several categories
Ohio State senior center Ken Johnson is leading Big Ten players in blocks this season. Johnson is sending back 4.67 shots per game with 42 blocks on the year. Senior Scoonie Penn is leading league players in assists with 5.00 a contest. Junior Michael Redd is the conference’s best free-throw shooter. He has connected on 21 of 23 freebies for a .913 shooting percentage. As a team, the Buckeyes are first among Big Ten teams in scoring margin (+17.9), rebounding (42.4 rpg.) and field goal percentage defense (.356). The Buckeyes are second in rebound margin (+9.1), turnover margin (4.44), blocked shots (6.44) and defensive rebounds (26.9).
Penn makes 100th career collegiate start vs. Toledo
Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn made his 100th start of his career against Toledo (12/22). Penn has started every game in which he has appeared over two seasons at Boston College and two at Ohio State. As an Eagle at BC, Penn started 56 games from 1995-97. To date at OSU, Penn has 45 starts over the last two seasons.
Redd ends double-figure scoring streak
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd has appeared in 75 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 had 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.
Johnson likely has made final move on OSU career swat chart
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 at Ohio State in career blocks. Johnson trails the 328 recorded blocks by Buckeye great Herb Williams (1978-81). Johnson averaged 1.9 bpg (58/30 gms.) as a sophomore, 2.8 bpg. (100/36 gms.) as a junior and 4.7 bpg. (42/9 gms.) so far this season.
Redd/Penn closing in on 1,500 points
The Ohio State guard tandem of senior Scoonie Penn and junior Michael Redd are each closing in on career point 1,500. Redd has 1,491 career points, good for 14th on the OSU career list, leaving him nine points shy of 1,500. Penn, who spent two seasons at Boston College, has scored 1,479 career points. Penn tallied 737 while at BC and has 742 at Ohio State.
Numerically noting the Buckeyes
Scoonie Penn: Penn needs two made free throws to reach 300 inhis career…he has made 298 of 392 (.760) career freethrows…Penn reached 100 career starts vs. Toledo (12/22)…he has45 at Ohio State..Penn is closing in on 400 career assists…with45 this year, his career total is 386, 199 coming at OSU…500career field goals will be reached with 14 more this season, Pennhas 486 in his career, 243 at Ohio State. Michael Redd: Redd hasstarted all 75 games of his career…he reached 100 career3-pointers made with three at Kansas (103-320)…he claimed 14th onthe OSU career scoring list with 17 points vs. Toledo…Redd has1,491 career points…Redd is 21 of 23 (.913) from the foul linethis year. George Reese: Reese has nearly doubled his offensiveoutput from a year ago…he averaged 5.5 points last season and isthird on the team this year at 11.3 ppg. Reese needs one point toreach 300 at Ohio State. Ken Johnson: Johnson has started the last46 games at center…Johnson has 200 career blocks and is averaging4.67 bpg. (42) this season…Johnson has 15 career games with fiveor more blocks, he had three as a freshman, seven last year andfive this season in seven games…Johnson is a career 53 percentshooter from the field (208-396) and is connecting on 67 percentthis season (31-46). Brian Brown: Brown has doubled his offensiveoutput this season with an average of 9.1 points a game…heaveraged 4.1 as a freshman…he also is shooting nearly 30 percentbetter from the foul line…Brown shot just 51.9 percent as afreshman (27-52) from the free-throw line…this season, Brown hasconnected on 20-24 (.833). Will Dudley: Dudley is a career 63percent shooter from the field…he has connected on 27-43 shotsfrom the field in 24 career games.
Blocks, steals excels OSU defense
Ohio State, led by senior center Ken Johnson’s 42 blocks, has rejected 58 shots this season while foes have just 21. Senior guard Scoonie Penn leads the team with 18 steals. OSU leads opponents 57-42 in thefts.
No DQs are Ok with OSU
Ohio State has not had a player foul out this season and has not had a player disqualified since Jason Singleton fouled out in the Big Ten Tournament loss to Illinois last season (3/6/99). OSU has gone 14-consecutive games without a disqualification. Guard Scoonie Penn has not fouled out of a game in his last 50 contests (last vs. Villanova 2/27/96 while at Boston College). The OSU starting five (Redd (1), Penn (0), Johnson (1), Reese (1) and Brown (1)) have combined for just four ejections in the last two seasons.
Buckeyes spend last 18 weeks in AP poll
Ohio State spent the final 10 weeks of the 1998-99 season and the first eight 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 is currently 15th in the AP and 18th in the ESPN/USA Today polls (12/27/99)
Buckeyes hit the boards early on with Columbus connection
Ohio State is averaging 41.3 rebounds a contest, which is 9.1 more than opponents (32.2) after the first eight games of the season. Junior Michael Redd leads the way with 6.9 rpg. Senior George Reese is next at 6.8 rpg. Both Redd and Reese hail from Columbus.
Centers click for Buckeyes
The OSU center position, made up of senior Ken Johnson and sophomore Will Dudley, has combined to shoot 44 of 68 (.647) from the field so far this season. Johnson is 31-46 (.674) and Dudley is 13-22 (.591) from the floor in 1999-00. Both, by the way, play the piano.
American falls to Eastern Kentucky
Eastern Kentucky University upped its season’s record to 5-2 with a 73-63 victory over American University in McBrayer Arena last Wednesday. With the score tied 55-55 with 5:57 left, the Colonels outscored American 15-4 within a four-minute span to take control of the contest and shove Eastern out in front 70-59 with 1:04 remaining. EKU shot only 36.8 percent from the field itself and committed 21 turnovers. Eastern won the rebounding battle by 24 boards, 60-36, and blocked 11 Eagle shots. EKU freshman center Chris Garnett led all players with 21 caroms, while fellow Colonel teammate Sam Hoskin had 18 rebounds. Both totals were career highs and were each half of these two Colonels’ ‘double-doubles’ as Garnett pumped in a game-high and career-high 23 points and Hoskin added 16 points. Junior guard Ronald Hearns came off the bench to lead American, 5-4, with 18 points. Junior center Saliou-Binet Telly and sophomore forward Patrick Doctor each grabbed eight rebounds for AU.
Eagles win five of first eight games
The American Eagles won four of their first five games but have dropped three of the last four after falling to Eastern Kentucky (73-63). The Eagles opened with wins over North Carolina A&T (68-58) and Catholic University (83-65) before losing at Delaware (58-57). AU then won at Loyola 74-66 and at home over Wagner, 79-72. Losses at Marist (72-63) and at George Mason (76-71) sandwiched a home win over Jacksonville (61-59).
American operates best with Doctor
American University sophomore Patrick Doctor leads the team in scoring at 14.3 points a game. Doctor, a center/forward, also is the Eagles’ top rebounder at 5.9 boards a contest. He connects on a team best 43 percent of his shots from the field. Freshman guard Hasheem Alexander (10.3) also is in double figures offensively for the Eagles.
Perry in third season with Eagles
Art Perry is in his third season coaching at his alma mater, where he starred from 1970-73. Perry has a 21-44 record at AU and an overall record of 28-84 in four seasons as a head coach. He coached for one year at Delaware State before moving to American. Perry also has a wealth of experience as an assistant coach. He began his career at Rutgers (1974-76) and then was at Connecticut for two seasons before returning to Rutgers for a second stint (1979-85). Perry then went to Old Dominion (1986-1990) and Maryland (1991-96) before his first head position at Delaware State. Over his career, Perry has been a part of eight NCAA Tournaments and four National Invitation Tournament teams.
Ohio State 3-0 vs. American
American University and Ohio State have met three times on the hardwood with the Buckeyes winning all three games. Ohio State won the first meeting in Columbus, 74-64, Dec. 9, 1989. The Buckeyes then made their only trip to American University Dec. 15, 1990. OSU, ranked No. 7 nationally, defeated the Eagles 109-73. The teams last met Dec. 29, 1991 in Columbus. Ohio State, again ranked No. 7, defeated the Eagles, 96-70.
Ohio State 7-1 vs. the Colonial Athletic Association
Ohio State has 3-0 records over both American and George Mason and a 1-0 mark against Old Dominion. The Buckeyes have lost just once to a Colonial Athletic Association member. James Madison defeated the Buckeyes, 55-48, March 11, 1982 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Charlotte, N.C.
American 3-0
East Carolina n/a
George Mason 3-0
James Madison 0-1
North Carolina Wilmington n/a
Old Dominion 1-0
Richmond n/a
Virginia Commonwealth n/a
William and Mary n/a
Totals 7-1
OSU 3-point field goal streak extended to 229
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 229 games. Freshman Cobe Ocokoljic extended the streak with a trey late in the first half against Oakland. 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 221-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.
Home Sweet Home
OSU will play its last of nine games in the last 10 outings at home, including 7 of 8 contests in December. The only road trip before Big Ten play begins Jan. 6 on the road at Illinois was the matchup at Kansas.
1999 Final Four banner unveiled
A banner celebrating the 1999 Final Four appearance by the Ohio State men’s basketball team was unveiled in a pregame ceremony Nov. 29 vs. Vermont. The banner will hang at Value City Arena throughout the 1999-00 season and then will be moved to the Ohio State practice facility. The banner was raised by 1998-99 captains Neshaun Coleman and Jason Singleton.
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.
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 pts. and 8 rebs 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.
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.
