#13 Ohio State Meets #10 Michigan State – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2000
No. 13 Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (11-3, 3-1)
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.
No. 10 Michigan State Spartans
Probable Starters (12-4, 3-0)
G 12-Mateen Cleaves, 6-2, Sr.
G 14-Charlie Bell, 6-3, Jr.
C 34-Andre Hutson, 6-8, Jr.
F 42-Morris Peterson, 6-7, Sr.
F 43-A.J. Granger, 6-9, Sr.
Redd moves into OSU Top 10
Michael Redd is in 10th place all-time at OSU in scoring with 1,574 career points. He cracked the OSU Top 10 list in career scoring with 10 points at Northwestern. Buckeye great Allen Hornyak (1971-73) is now 11th on the scoring list with 1,572 career points.
OSU vs. the Top 10
Ohio State will be playing its second Top 10 team of the season against the No. 10 Spartans of Michigan State. The Buckeyes lost 80-67 earlier this season to No. 8 Kansas in Lawrence. All-Time, Ohio State has a 48-99 record against team ranked in the AP Top 10. The last win was over No. 9 St. John’s in the South Regional Finals last season in Knoxville. The Buckeyes won that game 77-74. The Buckeyes play No. 19 St. John’s Saturday in New York.
Ohio State owns edge in big games
When Ohio State is ranked and plays a ranked opponent, the Buckeyes have a 49-36 record all-time. OSU has taken an Associated Press ranking into a pair of games against ranked foes twice this season. Ohio State lost to No. 8 Kansas 80-67 earlier this season on the road before dropping an 80-77 contest to No. 19 Illinois in Champaign. OSU was ranked No. 12 and No. 13 respectively in those defeats.
Buckeye schedule toughens
Ohio State will play at least six teams ranked among the AP Top 25 this season with the possibility to add a few more down the road. The Buckeyes already met No. 8 Kansas and No. 19 Illinois. No. 10 Michigan State, twice, No. 11 Indiana, and No. 19 St. John’s are on the horizon. Michigan and Purdue are getting votes in the AP Top 25 poll and could be ranked by the time OSU travels to Ann Arbor or hosts the Boilermakers. Illinois also is receiving votes and could be back in the Top 25 before the Illini travel to Columbus later this year.
Buckeyes drop Wildcats 58-44
Scoonie Penn scored 15 points, Brian Brown 14 and Ken Johnson added 12 as the No. 17 Buckeyes overcame a sluggish outing for a 58-44 victory over Northwestern. Ohio State has won seven of its last eight, while Northwestern lost its sixth straight. The game wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicates. The Buckeyes didn’t score a basket in the last 4:45 while Northwestern finished with a 10-0 run. The Buckeyes shot 44 percent (21-of-48) and Michael Redd, who came into the game averaging 15.6 points, was held to 10. After the Wildcats pared what had been a 16-point lead to 28-20 at halftime, Penn opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers. Brown added another, and Ohio State was back up 34-23 with 18:08 left. Ben Johnson scored five points to get the Wildcats within 37-29 with 15:14 left, but Brown made two free throws, Penn converted on a three-point play and Northwestern never got within single digits again. Ben Johnson led Northwestern with 18 points. The Buckeyes started strong, slapping away Wildcats passes and wrestling the ball away as they took a quick, 14-0 lead. The game was so lopsided, Ken Johnson had seven points and Brown five before Northwestern could get a basket.
Noting the win over Northwestern
– Ohio State earned its 96th win over the Wildcats, the most for OSU over any other Big Ten squad. The Buckeyes are now 39-30 in Evanston against the Wildcats.
– Ken Johnson, second in the nation in blocked shots, rejected five Wildcat attempts to give him 71 on the year after 14 games (5.1). He has 18 blocks in the last three games.
– Point guard Scoonie Penn had one of his better games of the season with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four steals and no turnovers in 35 minutes.
– Nine of 14 opponents this season have been held under 60 points after the Wildcats managed 44 in the loss to the Buckeyes. Ohio State also has held nine foes under 40 percent shooting from the field (NU shot .390).
– Junior Michael Redd is now 10th all time in career scoring after dropping in 10 points vs. the Wildcats. He now has scored 1,574 career points in 80 games as a Buckeye for an average of 19.7 a contest.
– Scoonie Penn recorded his 400th career assist in the win over Northwestern. He has 60 this season and 401 for his career.
Redd, Penn tied for scoring lead
The Ohio State guard duo of Michael Redd and Scoonie Penn each lead the Buckeyes in scoring with 15.2 points a contest. Each has scored 213 points this season. Penn has the edge in Big Ten Conference games 65-64.
ONN to replay OSU men’s hoops
The Ohio News Network will replay eight Big Ten OSU men’s basketball games this season. Replays begin at 11 p.m. EST the night of the game on ONN. Remaining games are: Jan. 29 vs. Purdue, Feb. 2 vs. Wisconsin, Feb. 9 vs. Iowa, Feb. 12 vs. Penn State, Feb. 19 at Indiana and Feb. 23 vs. Northwestern.
Redd among 30 finalists for Wooden Award, Penn still being considered
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd is listed among the 30 finalists for the 2000 John R. Wooden Award. Ohio State senior Scoonie Penn is still under consideration but is not listed among the mid-season Top 30.
OSU guards successful at foul line
The OSU guard rotation of Michael Redd, Scoonie Penn, Brian Brown and Brent Darby have been deadly from the foul line this season. Redd has made 32 of 34 shots (.941) followed by Brown (28-33, .848), Penn (43-58, .741) and Darby (11-15, .733). Combined, the four have made 114 of 140 for 81.4 percent accuracy.
Johnson records 200th career block, now 8th on Big Ten list
Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 229 blocks in his career after swatting five shots against Northwestern. Johnson is just the second Buckeye and the 12th Big Ten player to reach 200 career blocks. Johnson is currently tied for eighth on the all-time Big Ten list for blocked shots tied with Greg Stokes of Iowa (1981-85). Johnson needs seven more blocks to pass Minnesota’s Kevin McHale (1976-80). McHale ended his career with 235 rejections. Herb Williams (1977-81) leads OSU and is fourth all-time among Big Ten players with 328 rejections.
Big Ten Career Block Shot leaders 1. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-99 428 2. Acie Earl, IOWA 1989-93 365 3. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-80 349 4. Herb Williams, OSU 1977-81 328 5. Brad Sellers, WIS-OSU 1981-86 307 6. Roy Tarpley, MICH 1982-86 251 7. Kevin McHale, MINN 1976-80 235 8. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998- 229 Greg Stokes, IOWA 1981-85 229 10.Randy Breuer, MINN 1979-83 228
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 5.10 shots per game with 71 blocks on the year. As a team, the Buckeyes are first among Big Ten teams in scoring margin (+15.7), rebounding (41.7), field goal percentage defense (.359) and blocked shots (6.92). The Buckeyes are second in scoring defense (58.1), rebound margin (+7.9) and defensive rebounds (27.15).
Penn makes 100th career collegiate start vs. Toledo
Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn made the 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 50 starts over the last two seasons.
Redd begins another double-figure scoring streak
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd has appeared in 80 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. He has reached double digits in his last five games, including the 10-point effort vs. Northwestern (1/15/00).
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 (229) 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 5.10 bpg. (71/14 gms.) so far this season.
Redd, Penn reach 1,500 points
The Ohio State guard tandem of senior Scoonie Penn and junior Michael Redd each reached career point 1,500 this season. Redd eclipsed the mark with 19 against American (12/29) and has 1,574 career points, good for 10th on the OSU career list. Penn, who spent two seasons at Boston College, has scored 1,539 career points. Penn tallied 737 while at BC and has 821 at Ohio State.
Team Notes
Ohio State has scored 70 or more points in nine games this season and has an 8-1 record in those games…Since making eight of 11 free throws in the opener against Notre Dame (L 59-57), the Buckeyes have made at least 10 charity tosses in 12 of the last 13 contests…The Buckeyes have made more free throws (200) than opponents have attempted (190)…Ohio State has held 11 of 14 opponents under 65 points this season and has a 10-1 record in those games…OSU has reached double digits in offensive rebounds in all but two games this season (7 vs. Vermont and Northwestern)…Ohio State has blocked at least one opponent shot in the last 51 games (0 vs. Penn State, 2/28/98)–Ken Johnson has started the last 50 games.
Numerically noting the Buckeyes
– Scoonie Penn: Penn reached 100 career starts vs. Toledo (12/22)…he has 50 at Ohio State…Penn is closing in on 400 career assists…with 60 this year, his career total is 401, 214 coming at OSU…he made his 500th career field goal vs. Minnesota (1/9)…Penn has 509 in his career, 266 at Ohio State…Penn played his 3,500th career minute vs. Illinois…he has 3,644 minutes played in his career…Penn has played 30 or more minutes in 11 games this season, including all 40 at Kansas (12/16)…since failing to record a steal in the season opener against Notre Dame, Penn has at least one theft in 13-consecutive contests.
– Michael Redd: Redd has started all 80 games in his career…he claimed 10th on the OSU career scoring list with 10 points vs. Northwestern (1/15)…Redd has 1,574 career points…Redd is 32 of 34 (.941) from the foul line this year…he is a career 64 percent free throw shooter (297-465)…Redd has connected on at least one 3-pointer in 12 of 14 games this season…with three more free throws made this season, Redd will reach 300 makes for his career…in the rebound category, Redd is nearing the 500 mark…he has 490 for an average of 6.1 rpg.
– Ken Johnson: Johnson has started the last 50 games at center…Johnson has 229 career blocks and is averaging 5.1 bpg. (71) this season…Johnson has 19 career games with five or more blocks, he had three as a freshman, seven last year and nine this season in 14 games…Johnson is a career 52 percent shooter from the field (220-422) and is connecting on 60 percent this season (43-72).
– Brian Brown: Brown has doubled his offensive output this season with an average of 9.3 points a game…he averaged 4.1 as a freshman…he also is shooting nearly 45 percent better from the foul line…Brown shot just 51.9 percent as a freshman (27-52) from the free-throw line…this season, Brown has connected on 28-33 (.848)…he has made 23 of 35 field goal attempts (.657) in his last six games…he has scored in double figures in seven games this season after reaching 10 points just twice as a freshman.
– Cobe Ocokoljic: Ocokoljic cracked the starting lineup vs. Oakland (12/27)…he has played double-figure minutes in nine of 14 games and five of the last eight, including a career high 32 minutes vs. American (12/29).
– George Reese: Reese has doubled his offensive output from a year ago…he averaged 5.5 points last season and is third on the team this year at 11.2 ppg…he connected on 42 percent of his shots as a junior (73-174) but has upped that percentage to nearly 50 percent this year (65-133)…he scored 18-second half points on his way to a career high 24 vs. Illinois (1/6/00).
– Brent Darby: Darby made a huge 3-pointer with 7:02 remaining in the second half vs. Wisconsin (1/13) for his only points of the game…he has made 58 percent of his 3-pointers this season (7-12)…seven of his 10 field goals this season have been 3-pointers.
– Will Dudley: Dudley is a career 65 percent shooter from the field…he has connected on 32-49 shots from the field in 26 career games…he has made 18-28 (.643) shots this season.
Blocks, steals excels OSU defense
Ohio State, led by senior center Ken Johnson’s 71 blocks, has rejected 95 shots this season while foes have just 39. Senior guard Scoonie Penn leads the team with 32 steals. OSU leads opponents 89-75 in thefts.
Buckeyes spend last 21 weeks in AP poll
Ohio State spent the final 10 weeks of the 1998-99 season and the first 11 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 13th in the AP and 15th in the ESPN/USA Today polls (1/17/99)
Buckeyes hit the boards early with Columbus connection
Ohio State is averaging 40.7 rebounds a contest, which is 7.4 more than opponents (33.3) after the first 14 games of the season. Junior Michael Redd leads the way with 6.6 rpg. Senior George Reese is next at 6.4 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 61 of 90 (.678) from the field so far this season. Johnson is 43-72 (.597) and Dudley is 18-28 (.643) from the floor in 1999-00. Both, by the way, play the piano.
Michigan State outlasts Indiana
Morris Peterson wouldn’t take the shot in a two-point loss at Kentucky and Mateen Cleaves called him a wimp. Cleaves fed Peterson the ball again Tuesday and this time he buried it for Michigan State. Peterson’s 3-pointer forced overtime and he scored four more points in the extra session as the 11th-ranked Spartans defeated No. 9 Indiana 77-71 to take over first place in the Big Ten. The win was the 100th for coach Tom Izzo and left the Spartans (12-4, 3-0 Big Ten) the lone unbeaten team in conference play. Indiana (12-2, 2-1), which never led in the five-minute overtime, was held to just one basket in the extra period, a 3-pointer by Michael Lewis with 4.0 remaining. Charlie Bell led the Spartans with 22 points and Peterson finished with 17. A.J. Guyton scored 28 points for the Hoosiers, who were outrebounded 46-37. Peterson’s 3-pointer with 11.3 seconds left in regulation, on a pass from Cleaves, was only the Spartans’ fifth basket over the final 10:44 and tied it at 62. Cleaves heaved up a long shot from just inside midcourt at the buzzer for Michigan State, but the ball spun out of the rim. A.J. Granger’s layup 47 seconds into the overtime gave the Spartans a lead they never lost. Two free throws by David Thomas gave Michigan State a 75-68 lead with 8.9 seconds remaining. Lewis’ 3-pointer cut it to four points, then Granger sealed it with two free throws with 2.8 seconds left.
Buckeyes 15-9 when ranked vs. Mich. St.
Ohio State has taken an Associated Press Top 25 ranking into 24 games against Michigan State since 1950. The Buckeyes have come away with a 15-9 record (.625) in those games. The last time Michigan State defeated a ranked Ohio State team was in 1999 when the No. 8 Spartans won 76-71 over the No. 15 Buckeyes. Ohio State is just 3-11 vs. ranked MSU squads. The last Buckeye win over a ranked Spartan team was Feb. 29, 1992 when the No. 8 Buckeyes prevailed 78-65 over the No. 12 Spartans.
Spartans winners of 4 of last 5
Michigan State enters the game with Ohio State with a 12-4 record but just a 2-3 mark on the road. The Spartans have been winners in four of the last five games. The last three wins have come over Penn State, Iowa and Indiana. A loss to Wright State followed a win over Mississippi Valley State. MSU’s three other losses were to Texas, Arizona and Kentucky. Key wins have been against North Carolina and Kansas.
Peterson leads MSU Offense
Morris Peterson (6-6, Sr., F, Flint, Mich.) has been the offensive leader for the Spartans this season. He has averaged 16.6 points this season and nearly 20 ppg. in Big Ten Conference play. Charlie Bell (6-3, Jr., G, Flint, Mich.), who filled in for the injured Mateen Cleaves for most of the early part of the season, is second in scoring at 12.8 ppg. Andre Hutson (6-8, Jr., F, Trotwood, Ohio) is the team’s leading rebounder with 5.9 rpg.
Izzo in Fifth season at MSU
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is in his fifth season at the help of the Spartans. He has compiled a record of 100-45 during his tenure, which includes a 12-4 mark this season. .
The Michigan State series
Michigan State leads the all-time series over Ohio State 50-43. The Buckeyes are 30-17 in games played in Columbus and 13-33 in East Lansing. The Buckeyes have not defeated the Spartans since Feb. 29, 1992 in East Lansing (78-65). Michigan State has a 10-game winning streak in the series.
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, 1998 in Columbus.
Big Ten Series Records
Illinois 55-93
Indiana 65-92
Iowa 59-66
Michigan 77-67
Michigan State 43-50
Minnesota 68-50
Northwestern 96-44
Penn State 9-10
Purdue 66-77
Wisconsin 77-53
Totals 615-602
OSU 3-point field goal streak extended to 234
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 234 games. Brian Brown extended the streak early in the first half against Northwestern. 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 225-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.
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 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.
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.
