Buckeyes Looking to Send Defending Champs Home – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/5/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 5, 1999
CHICAGO (AP)– The Big Ten’s most surprising team this season will take the floor on Friday against a longshot trying to defend its title.
No. 11 Ohio State, which won just 10 games a year ago, will battle Michigan in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament at the United Center in Chicago.
The Buckeyes (24-7), who boast the league’s co-player of the year in Scoonie Penn and coach of the year in Jim O’Brien, ended the regular season by winning seven of eight to finish second in the conference.
Ohio State did drop its final regular season contest, falling 98-85 to Penn State in overtime on Saturday. Penn had 22 points and six assists in the loss, while backcourt mate Michael Redd had 26 points.
The duo formed one of the best guard-combinations in the nation. Penn, who shared his player of the year award with Michigan State’s Mateen Cleaves, averaged 17.2 points and 4.1 assists.
“Scoonie has had a terrific season, and I shudder to think what our team would be like without him,” O’Brien added.
Redd led the Buckeyes in scoring at 19.5 points per game while adding 5.5 rebounds.
The duo will have their hands full with Michigan’s (12-18) senior backcourt.
Louis Bullock had 26 points in Thursday’s 79-73 overtime win over seventh-seeded Purdue. Robbie Reid hit a key 3-pointer to force overtime for the 10th-seeded Wolverines.
Bullock averaged 20.6 points per game in the regular season, while Reid netted 13.5 points and 3.1 assists per contest.
Michigan lost nine of its last 11 to close out the regular season.
The Wolverines won the inaugural Big Ten tournament a year ago, but only two starters remain from that squad.
The schools split a pair of games this season. Reid and Bullock combined for 40 points in a 84-74 Michigan win on Jan. 16, but Penn and Redd won the backcourt battle on Feb. 9, combining for 43 points in a 74-69 Ohio State victory.
