2000-2001 Men’s Basetball Season Outlook – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/23/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Johnson awarded fourth year of eligibility by NCAA
Ken Johnson, a center on the Ohio State men’s basketball team, was granted an additional year of eligibility to play men’s basketball at Ohio State by the NCAA.
Citing NCAA Rule 14.3.3.2, Ohio State asked for and received the fourth year of collegiate eligibility for Johnson.
“Ken has met the eligibility requirements of Ohio State University, the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA,” Andy Geiger, Ohio State director of athletics, said. “This is no doubt great news for Ohio State basketball. It is even better news for Ken Johnson.”
Johnson was given the opportunity to return to Ohio State and work toward his degree in art.
Johnson played for three seasons on the men’s basketball team after sitting out his first year in Columbus because he did not qualify academically to participate as a freshman.
He led the nation in blocked shots last season with 161, an average of 5.37 blocks per game. That average ranks fifth all-time in NCAA history for a single season. His season total was both an Ohio State and Big Ten record for rejections in a season. His efforts on the court earned him the 2000 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award and a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Johnson enters the 2000-01 season with 319 career blocks in three seasons at Ohio State. He is second all-time at OSU, nine behind Herb Williams (1978-81), who completed his four-year career with 328. Johnson ranks No. 5 all time in Big Ten history.
O’Brien nears 300 career wins
In 18 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Ohio State’s Jim O’Brien is closing in on career win 300. His career mark of 293-255 includes a 58-38 record at Ohio State. After a first-year record of 8-22, O’Brien has directed Ohio State to a 50-16 record the last two seasons, which includes a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and a trip to the 1999 Final Four. He compiled a record of 168-166 at Boston College and a 67-51 mark at St. Bonaventure before his arrival in Columbus. Moving to the inside … for now
There was little doubt about where the strength of the Buckeyes fell last year. Guard play, led by senior Scoonie Penn and junior Michael Redd, accounted for most of the OSU offensive effort. That could change this season. Senior center Ken Johnson will be looked upon as more of an offensive threat to combine with his defensive skills. Junior Will Dudley and sophomore Cobe Ocokoljic also will see the ball more frequently on the inside. The Buckeyes also added size in recruits Matt Marinchick (6-10), Velimir Radinovic (7-0) and Zach Williams (6-7). Last year, Ohio State featured just three players 6-8 or better. The 2000-01 roster will have six players of that height or taller.
Connolly ready … Darby, Brown in position to emerge
The guard position is still stocked with the addition of sophomore Sean Connolly, a transfer from Providence who sat out the 1999-00 season at Ohio State. A known threat from 3-point range, Connolly will add a consistent scorer from the outside to complement Ken Johnson and the rest of the Buckeye post players. Junior Brian Brown, a starter since the 1999 Final Four run, is a veteran at the guard position and one of the most consistent performers Jim O’Brien has ever had. Darby, a backup to Scoonie Penn at the point last year, is set to run the show for Ohio State. He is an offensive threat, especially from 3-point range, who can also keep his teammates involved.
Often overlooked are juniors Doylan Robinson and Boban Savovic. Robinson is an athletic big guard, who at 6-4 can score and defend with anyone in the Big Ten Conference. Savovic, out most of last season with a variety of nagging ankle and foot injuries, is again healthy and ready to contribute. He is one of the more fundamentally smart players who possesses great knowledge of the game. Savovic has the green light to shoot the 3-pointer as well and could be primed for a break-out season this year.
Another newcomer
Tim Martin will be eligible this year after sitting out last season. He was able to practice with the Buckeyes last year but was unable to play because he transferred from Kent State following the 1997-98 season to concentrate on his academic career at Ohio State. He did not play basketball during 1998-99 but did not have enough credits to play once he decided to return to the game as a walk-on last year. At 6-6, Martin is a relentless rebounder with an offensive touch around the basket. He hounded Ken Johnson and George Reese all of last season during practice. Martin is expected to see time and contribute this season.
The Schedule
The 2000-01 version of Ohio State men’s basketball will open the season at home vs. Yale Nov. 17 before traveling to Anchorage, Alaska for the 2000 Alaska Shootout Nov. 22-24. A total of 11 2000 NCAA Tournament teams dot the schedule with another three teams playing in the postseason 2000 National Invitation Tournament.
The Shootout field will include, DePaul, Florida State, Missouri, Rhode Island, Syracuse, Valparaiso and host Alaska-Anchorage.
Ohio State will host the University of Massachusetts Dec. 10, St. John’s Dec. 13 (ESPN2) and Kansas Dec. 23 (CBS) to highlight the non-conference schedule. The Buckeyes will travel to Alabama Feb. 17 for another nationally-televised (CBS) contest with the Crimson Tide.
The Big Ten season gets underway Jan. 3 at home against Northwestern followed by the road opener against Illinois Jan. 6. Ohio State opens the league season with four of its first five Big Ten games at home, including Penn State (Jan. 10), Minnesota (Jan. 13) and Michigan (Jan. 18/ESPN). The end of the season finds the Buckeyes on the road for six of the last eight contests.
Michigan State and Ohio State, the co-champions of the Big Ten last year, will meet twice in seven days. The Buckeyes travel to East Lansing Jan. 21 (CBS) before hosting the Spartans a week later, Jan. 27. OSU travels to Wisconsin Jan. 24 to highlight a stretch of three 2000 Final Four opponents in seven days.
More on the Freshman
Matt Marinchick, a 6-10 center, was the first to commit to the Buckeyes in the 1999 fall signing period.
He averaged 19.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game as a senior at Hudson (Ohio) High School.
His efforts earned him Third Team All-Ohio honors as well as all-district and All-Western Reserve Conference accolades. He was a four year starter in basketball at Hudson.
He scored over 1,000 points in his career and owns the school record for blocks in a season with 84 in 23 games as a senior.
Zach Williams, a 6-7 forward, is the third recruit from the state of New York in the last three seasons to join Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien, himself a New York native, at Ohio State. Williams, who hails from Middle Village, N.Y., joins juniors Brian Brown and Will Dudley, both Brooklyn, New Yorkers, on the OSU roster.
