Hoop Notes and Quotes – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/12/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2000
Johnson 2nd nationally in blocked shots
%^$Ohio State senior center Ken Johnson (6-11, Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) ranks second among NCAA Division I men’s basketball players in blocked shots, according to NCAA statistics (as of 1/10/00). Johnson has rejected 60 shots in 12 games for an average of 5.0 a contest. Myrda Wojciech of Louisiana-Monroe, a 7-0 center from Rzeszow, Poland, is the nation’s leader with 63 blocks in 12 games (5.3).%^$
%^$OSU among nation’s best in several team categories
%^$The Ohio State defense has limited opponents to 36.2 percent shooting from the field after 12 games. That percentage is good enough to rank seventh nationally in field goal percentage defense, according to NCAA statistics (as of 1/10/00). Ohio State also ranks 12th in scoring defense, holding opponents to 58.7 points per game. The Buckeyes are 13th in scoring margin, outscoring foes by 16.8 points a contest, and rebound margin, grabbing 7.8 more rebounds than opponents.%^$
%^$Quotes From Head Coach Jim O’Brien
%^$”We have to play patiently both offensively and defensively against Wisconsin. They like to play games in the 50s. Every single possession becomes critical when you are on offense. The bad thing is if you run up and down the court and take some bad shots and then spend 25 to 30 seconds on defense you will get tired.”%^$
%^$”We have played Wisconsin four times since I have been here and each time it was a close, low scoring game. We are preparing for that same type of match-up on Thursday.”%^$
%^$Scoonie Penn
%^$”Wisconsin really likes to slow the pace of the game. They are a team that likes to keep you in the 50s and that is a tough situation. We have to get the game to our tempo. If we play their way you are in trouble and they do a great job getting their opponents to play their style.”%^$
%^$Michael Redd
%^$”We always try to push the tempo against Wisconsin. They do a good job slowing the pace down and making their opponents play long defensive possessions.”%^$
%^$”We are real confident right now. The past two seasons we have played well against Wisconsin. We are playing well. If we can get these two games on the road we will have a lot of confidence for the rest of the Big Ten season.”
