Men’s Basketball Welcomes The Morehead State Eagles To Value City Arena – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 15, 2000
Game Notes in .PDF format
Opponent: Morehead State
Site: Value City Arena (19,100)
Game Time: 8 p.m. (EST)
TV: ESPN Plus
Local TV: WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent: Mike Gleason (P-by-P)
Bill Hosket (Color)
Radio: OSU Radio Network (63 stations)
Local Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent: Paul Keels (P-by-P)
Ron Stokes (Color)
Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (6-2)
G 4-Brent Darby, 6-1, So.
G 21-Boban Savovic, 6-5, Jr.
G 13-Brian Brown, 6-4, Jr.
C 32-Ken Johnson, 6-11, Sr.
F 33-Zach Williams, 6-7, Fr.
Morehead State Eagles
Probable Starters (3-2)
G 11-Marquis Sykes, 5-11, So.
G 4-Greg Hendricks, 6-1, Sr.
C 35-Iker Lopez, 6-8, So.
F 55-Kyle Umberger, 6-7, Jr.
F 24-Ricky Minard, 6-4, Fr.
O’Brien 1 victory short of No. 300
Jim O’Brien is closing on career win No. 300 as a collegiate head coach. O’Brien is 299-257 (.538) in 19 seasons as a head coach. He has a record of 64-40 (.615), including a record of 56-18 (.757) over the last three seasons with the Buckeyes. O’Brien spent 11 seasons at his alma mater, Boston College. His teams compiled a record of 168-166 record with six postseason appearances, including three trips to the NCAA Tournament in his last four years. O’Brien started his career at St. Bonaventure, where in four seasons, his teams posted a record of 67-51 (.568). His 100th career win came against Maine Dec. 6, 1988 (87-59) with No. 200 coming against Hartford Dec. 23, 1995 (106-67. O’Brien won both those games at Boston College. Buckeyes look for 5th-consecutive win
Ohio State will be looking to win for the fifth consecutive time when the ball is tipped off vs. Morehead State. Ohio State last won five in a row near the end of the Big Ten season last year. The fifth win in that streak (from Feb. 19 to March 4) came on the road against Minnesota (82-72) to clinch a share of the Big Ten Championship.
Homestand longest since 1910
Ohio State is in the midst of a nine-game homestand and a span of 12 home games in 13 outings. The homestand began vs. Eastern Kentucky (W 90-44, 12/2/00). The Buckeyes then hosted Denver (W 83-46, 12/7/00), Massachusetts (W 54-51, 12/10/00) and St. John’s (W 71-58, 12/13/00). Games remain against Morehead State, Robert Morris (12/20/00), Kansas (12/23/00), Coppin State (12/30/00) and Northwestern (1/3/01). The last time Ohio State hosted nine-consecutive games was at the start of the 1910 season when OSU played at home for the first 10 games of the season in an 11-1 season. The Buckeyes were 9-1 in that homestand. The Buckeyes are currently 4-0 in the most recent home streak.
New York Buckeyes have final say in win over rival St. John’s
Boban Savovic fueled a first-half spurt and Brian Brown scored 18 points as Ohio State beat St. John’s 71-58. The victory was Ohio State’s third in a row over the Red Storm in high-profile games each of the last three seasons. The Buckeyes beat St. John’s to earn a berth in the Final Four two years ago and edged the Red Storm at Madison Square Garden last season. Brown, a Brooklyn native, hit 7-of-10 shots from the field and also had four assists. Savovic added 15 points and Ken Johnson had 11 points and nine rebounds for Ohio State, which won its fourth game in a row. Ohio State shot 57 percent from the field to 42 percent for St. John’s. Kyle Cuffe and Omar Cook each scored 12 points and Willie Shaw had 11 for St. John’s. Anthony Glover, the Red Storm’s leading scorer at 19 points a game, hit just 3-of-7 shots from the field and finished with six points, three rebounds and no assists in 32 minutes.
Noting the win over St. John’s
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien notched his 299th career winwith the victory over St. John’s. O’Brien will shoot for No. 300vs. Morehead State. O’Brien is 299-257 in 19 seasons as a headcoach. Ohio State improved to 34-3 during its two-plus seasons atValue City Arena. The Buckeyes are undefeated (5-0) this yearinside the friendly confines of their home arena. Brian Brown hasbeen a thorn in St. John’s side over the past two seasons. Browntallied 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting vs. the Red Storm Lastseason, Brown scored 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting to lead theBuckeyes to a win at Madison Square Garden. The New York connectionwas prevalent in a big way for Ohio State’s three New York natives,as Brian Brown scored a game-high 18 points and added four steals,while Will Dudley scored a season-high nine points and ZachWilliams added four points. Ohio State is 51-32 all-time vs. BigEast teams, including a 1-1 record this season. OSU fell 77-66 toSyracuse in the semifinals of the Great Alaska Shootout. OSU leadsthe series with St. John’s 7-2 and has posted three straight wins -all in the past three seasons. Ken Johnson moved into third placeon the all-time Big Ten career blocked shot chart, swatting fourvs. St. John’s. Johnson has 351 blocks for his career, moving himpast Purdue’s Joe Barry Carroll (1977-80, 349) on the list. Next upon the chart is Iowa’s Acie Earl (1989-93) with 365. Johnsonstarted his 100th career game vs. St. John’s. He is one of eightplayers in Ohio State history to eclipse 100 starts in his Buckeyecareer. Will Dudley scored a season-high nine points, topping hisprevious season high of seven, set vs. Eastern Kentucky (12/2/00).Boban Savovic scored a season-high 15 points while tying his careerhigh of four 3-point goals made. Savovic’s previous scoring highthis season was 14, set vs. Eastern Kentucky (12/2). The 15 pointswere one off his career high of 16, set vs. UT-Martin (12/14/98).Savovic also logged a career-best 37 minutes, topping his previoushigh of 33, set earlier this season vs. Valparaiso. Sean Connollyhas hit at least one 3-point field goal in his last 13 games,dating back to his freshman year at Providence. The last timeConnolly failed to connect from long distance was Feb. 15, 1999, an0-for-3 performance at St. John’s. He is the only Buckeye to make a3-point field goal in all eight games this season. St. John’sscored a season-low 58 points in the contest. The Red Storm’sprevious low was 62, set in a win vs. Kentucky (11/9). The Buckeyeoffense was clicking early, as it hit 7-of-8 shoots in the game’sfirst 4:58 and 10-of-13 in first 9:50. The Buckeyes shot 68 percentin the first half and 57.8 percent for the game. Omar Cook’s eightassists are a Value City Arena opponent record. The previous highwas seven, set by Notre Dame’s Jimmy Dillon (11/16/99) and MichiganState’s Mateen Cleaves (1/20/00). Cook is ranked third nationallyin assists with 8.9 per game. Cook hit 5-of-16 from the field. Inthe Red Storm’s four wins, Cook has connected on 45.4 percent(20-of-44) of his field goals, but in their four losses he has hiton 20-of-65 for 30.8 percent. Ohio State went 10-of-14 (71.4percent) from the free throw line in the second half, while St.John’s did not attempt a charity toss after the break. The RedStorm shot just four foul shots in the contest, well off theirseason average of 23. With 25 points at halftime, St. John’s becamethe first of the five opponents to break the 20-point barrier athalftime at Value City Arena. Yale and Denver had posted thehighest halftime totals with 18 points apiece. Ohio State has helda double-digit lead in every game it has led at halftime. TheBuckeyes are 6-0 in those contests. St. John’s 15-point halftimedeficit was its largest at the break this season. The Red Storm’slargest deficit prior to the contest was an 11-point deficit vs.George Washington.
Ohio State to host NCAA Tournament 1st, 2nd rounds in 2004
The Ohio State Department of Athletics, along with Nationwide Arena and the Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, has been selected to host the 2004 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds, the NCAA announced Dec. 7. Ohio State will serve as the host institution for the 2004 Midwest Region early round contests. The games will be played at Nationwide Arena March 19 and 21, 2004.
Johnson, Brown No. 1 in Big Ten
Ohio State senior Ken Johnson (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) claimed the No. 1 spot in the Big Ten with an average of 4.0 blocks a game (32) after a nine-rejection performance vs. UMass (12/10/00). Junior Brian Brown (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) is No. 1 in steals (2.50) and sixth in free throw shooting (24-28, .857).
Robinson out 2-4 weeks
Doylan Robinson (Akron, Ohio/Buchtel), a junior guard, will be out 2-4 weeks recovering from injuries sustained as a passenger in a traffic accident Sunday, Dec. 3. Robinson suffered several lacerations to his face and right hand. He is expected to recover fully. Robinson has played in five games to date for the Buckeyes. He is averaging 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.4 minutes a game.
Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in defense
Ohio State rates No. 1 among Big Ten teams in field goal percentage defense (.355) and is No. 2 in scoring defense allowing just 56.6 points a game. Foes are hitting only .311 percent of their 3-point attempts, which has OSU again No. 4 in 3-point field goal percentage defense. The Ohio State offense is No. 2 in scoring margin, with a 16.3 scoring advantage over opponents. The Buckeyes are No. 3 in turnover margin (+2.75).
Samford upends Morehead
Marc Salyers scored 23 points and Derrick Jones added 22 to lead Samford to a 63-59 win over Morehead State Dec. 9. Kyle Umberger scored 18 to lead four Eagles in double figures. Ricky Minard added 15, Greg Hendricks had 12 and Iker Lopez had 11 for Morehead State. The Bulldogs led most of the game and carried a two-point lead into the game’s final minute. Marquis Sykes missed a layup that would have tied the game with 47 seconds left and Salyers iced the game with a pair of free throws with seven seconds remaining. Samford went 23-of-42 from the floor (55 percent), including 10-of-23 from 3-point range (44 percent). Morehead State lost despite outrebounding Samford 28-26 and committing only 11 turnovers. The Eagles went 24-of-52 from the floor (46 percent), including 3-of-14 from 3-point range (21 percent).
Head Coach Kyle Macy
Kyle Macy, one of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s best known and most popular basketball figures, was born in Kendalville, Ind., and a was high school standout at Peru (Ind.) High School. He was a two-time All-American at the University of Kentucky and played on the Wildcats’ 1978 national championship team. He played three seasons at Kentucky after spending one season at Purdue. Following his collegiate career, he spent seven seasons in the NBA, playing for the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers. In all seven of his NBA seasons, his team qualified for the playoffs. He also played three seasons in the Italian professional league. In four seasons at Morehead State, his record stands at 28-58. The Eagles are off to a 3-2 start this season.
Leading the Eagles
The Eagles boast three players averaging in double figures. Freshman forward Ricky Minard leads the way with 18.6 points a contest. He is followed by junior forward Kyle Umberger’s 13.8 ppg., and senior guard Greg Hendricks’ 11.6 ppg. Minard also leads the team in rebounds per game at 7.4. As a team, the Eagles are connecting on 48 percent of their shots from the floor (124-256) and are narrowly outscoring opponents 67.8-64.0. Wins this season have come against Huntington (80-73), Mount St. Joseph (73-65) and Virginia Military Institute (57-48). The two losses on the year were to East Tennessee State (71-70) and Samford (63-59).
No. 2 vs. the OVC
Ohio State and Morehead State will be meeting for the first time. The Buckeyes are facing their second member of the Ohio Valley Conference after downing Eastern Kentucky Dec. 2 90-44. The Buckeyes have a combined record of 8-0 vs. OVC members.
Three Eagles nested in Ohio
Three players from Ohio highlight the roster for the Eagles this season. Freshman Ricky Minard and sophomore Marquis Sykes both are natives of Mansfield, while junior Andrew Keating hails from Germantown, Ohio.
Getting to know the Buckeye State
The Eagles will travel to the Buckeye State three times during the 2000-01 season. Morehead will take on the Buckeyes Dec. 16 at Value City Arena. The Eagles will then return two more times to face Dayton Dec. 21 and Wright State Jan. 2.
Johnson No. 1 on OSU career swat chart
Ken Johnson has 32 blocks on the season for a career total of 351, which places him first all-time at Ohio State in career rejections. Johnson passed Herb Williams (1978-81) at the Great Alaska Shootout. Johnson averaged 1.9 bpg. (58/30 gms.) as a freshman, 2.8 bpg. (100/36 gms.) as a sophomore and 5.37 bpg. (161/30 gms.) in 1999-00. He has an average of 4.0 blocks a game this season.
Johnson starts 100th career game
Ken Johnson has started 100 career games as a Buckeye since the 1997-98 season. He became one of only eight Buckeye to reach 100 or more career starts. Currently No. 8 all-time, Johnson will next overtake Troy Taylor (1982-85) at No. 7 with 101 starts.
Leading the Buckeyes
Junior Brian Brown leads the Buckeyes offensively with a scoring average of 15.5 points per game. He also has been deadly accurate from the foul line, hitting 24-of-28 attempts for a shooting percentage of 86 percent. He is second behind Boban Savovic (13-28, .464) from 3-point range (12-29, .414) and has played a team best 33.0 minutes per game. Ken Johnson is the team’s leading rebounder with 6.4 a game. He is the most accurate Buckeye from the field as well hitting 55 percent of his shots (36-66). Brown leads in assists with 33.
Buckeyes scoring well from foul line
Ohio State has connected on 74 percent of its foul shots (108-146). Starters Brian Brown, Ken Johnson, Boban Savovic and Zach Williams are a combined 67-84 (.800).
OSU opponents fare well in polls
Seven 2000-01 Buckeye opponents are rated among the Top 25 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Another five foes are receiving votes for Top 25 consideration. Michigan State (2/2), Illinois (5/5), Kansas (10/8), Syracuse (12/12), Wisconsin (16/17), Alabama (18/22) and Iowa (22/25) are rated in the Top 25 in both polls. Penn State, Indiana, St. John’s and Minnesota all are receiving votes in at least one of the polls. Ohio State received 12 votes for Top 25 consideration in the latest AP poll (12/11/00).
Johnson reaches 300 career blocks, 3rd on Big Ten list
Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 351 blocks in his career after swatting nine against UMass. Johnson is third in Big Ten history in career blocks. Acie Earl of Iowa (1989-93) is the next target for Johnson at No. 2 with 365 career blocks.
Big Ten Career Blocked Shots leaders 1. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-99 428 2. Acie Earl, IOWA 1989-93 365 3. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998- 351 4. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-80 349 5. Herb Williams, OSU 1977-81 328
Big Ten Season Blocked Shot leaders 1. Ken Johnson, OSU 1999-00 161 2. Calvin Booth, PSU 1997-98 140 3. Jim Pitts, NU 1965-66 123 4. Acie Earl, Iowa 1991-92 121 5. Acie Earl, Iowa 1990-91 106 6. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-78 105 7. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-96 101 8. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998-99 100 9. Dean Garrett, IND 1987-88 99 10.Roy Tarpley, MICH 1985-86 97 Brad Sellers, OSU 1985-86 97
Johnson led nation in blocks, average fifth in NCAA
Ohio State center Ken Johnson led the Big Ten and the nation in blocks in 1999-00. Johnson sent back 5.37 shots per game with 161 blocks on the year. Johnson has the fifth highest block per game average in NCAA history. His total of 161 is the seventh most in a single season in NCAA history.
NCAA Single Season Blocks Avg. 1.#Adonal Foyle, Colgate 1997 6.43 2.#Keith Closs, C. Conn. St. 1996 6.36 3.#David Robinson, Navy 1986 5.91 4. Adonal Foyle, Colgate 1996 5.69 5.#Ken Johnson, OSU 2000 5.37 # Led nation in blocks.
Big Ten coaches, media select Johnson preseason First Team All-Big Ten
The Big Ten men’s basketball coaches and league media chose Ken Johnson (Sr., Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) as a preseason First Team All-Big Ten selection. The announcement was made Oct. 30 at the annual Big Ten Men’s Basketball media day. Johnson joins Cory Bradford (Illinois), Charlie Bell (Michigan State), Kirk Haston (Indiana) and LaVell Blanchard (Michigan) on the squad selected by the coaches. The media selected the same squad with the exception of Haston. Joe Crispin of Penn State filled that spot. Johnson, who averaged nearly eight points, over six rebounds and 5.4 blocks a game last year as a junior, is the only senior on Ohio State’s squad this season.
A change in lineup
Ohio State used its second starting lineup of the season with sophomore Sean Connolly starting in place of sophomore Brent Darby against Eastern Kentucky. Darby had a slight knee sprain but did play vs. the Colonels. According to STATS Inc., Ohio State was among just six schools to use just one or two different starting lineups in 1999-00. Hawaii used the same starters all season. Ohio State, Southern Illinois, St. John’s, Vermont and Wofford used just two lineups in 1999-00.
2-year home record rates high at OSU
Ohio State has compiled a 34-3 (.919) record over three seasons in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes were 14-1 in the inaugural season in VCA (1998-99) and notched a 15-2 record at home in 1999-00. In back-to-back seasons in which the Buckeyes have won at least 25 combined home games, the OSU record from 1999-00 of 29-3 stands fourth all-time for home record in consecutive seasons. The 1962-63 teams posted a 25-0 record during a span of 50 home games in which the Buckeyes were undefeated from 1960-64.
Ohio State home record in back-to-back seasons Seasons 2-yr. home Rec. Win Pct. 1962-63 25-0 1.000 1991-92 30-1 .968 1990-91 27-2 .931 1999-00 29-3 .906 1985-86 26-5 .839 1982-83 25-5 .833 1986-87 26-7 .788 1985-86 26-5 .781
OSU 3-pt FG streak extended to 258
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 258 games. Boban Savovic extended the streak early in the first half against St. John’s (12/13/00). 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 250-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.
OSU vs. the Big Ten
The Buckeyes open the Big Ten season Jan. 3, 2001 at home against Northwestern. The Buckeyes have more victories over the Wildcats (97) than any other league school. Ohio State has 78 wins each over Michigan and Wisconsin. Illinois has the most wins over the Buckeyes with 94. This will be the 89th season of Big Ten play for Ohio State in men’s basketball.
Big Ten Series Records
Illinois 56-94
Indiana 66-92
Iowa 59-67
Michigan 78-67
Michigan State 44-51
Minnesota 69-50
Northwestern 97-44
Penn State 11-11
Purdue 67-77
Wisconsin 78-53
Totals 625-60
Johnson on watch list for Naismith Award
Ken Johnson, a senior on the Ohio State men’s basketball team, is among 30 preseason candidates for the 2000-01 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award. The Naismith Awards program, now in its 33rd year, honors the outstanding college basketball players in the United States. The program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball. Charlie Bell (Michigan State), Cory Bradford (Illinois) and Mike Kelley (Wisconsin) also represent the Big Ten on the list.
Wooden Award a possibility for Johnson
Johnson is a candidate for the John R. Wooden Award, which began its Silver Anniversary celebration with the announcement of the Top 50 Preseason Candidates for the 2000-01 All-American Team in late August. Founded in 1976, The John R. Wooden Award is the nation’s pre-eminent trophy given annually to the most outstanding collegiate basketball player in the United States.
Johnson helps Olympic team prepare for Gold in Sydney
Ken Johnson was selected as one of 12 collegiate players who gathered to practice against the 2000 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball team last summer in Maui, Hawaii. Johnson was the only true center on the 2000 USA Basketball Men’s Select team and its tallest player at 6-feet 11-inches. The Select team scrimmaged the Olympic team each day during the week-long camp. The camp ended with a nationally-televised (NBC) contest Sept. 2 at the University of Hawaii Stan Sheriff Center.
Three student-athletes added for 2001-02 season
Jim O’Brien signed one of the best recruiting classes of his coaching tenure Nov. 8, the first day of the fall men’s basketball signing period.
Matt Sylvester (Loveland, Ohio/Moeller), Terence Dials (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman) and Brandon Fuss-Cheatham (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) all signed NCAA National Letters of Intent to play for Ohio State.
Sylvester, a 6-foot-7-inch, 200-pound wing forward, is considered to be among the top two players in Ohio. He is ranked by Prep Spotlight Magazine as one of the Top 60 players in the country. Sylvester played for the powerful Cincinnati AAU program. As a junior, he averaged 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds. As a sophomore, Sylvester helped guide Carl Kremer’s Moeller squad to a Division I State Championship.
Dials, the second recruit from Ohio to sign with the Buckeyes, is a 6-foot-9-inch, 240-pound power forward/center. He gives the Buckeyes an athletic big man. As a junior, Dials averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and 4.0 blocks.
Fuss-Cheatham (6-1, 190) is the No. 1-ranked point guard in the Midwest by Vince Baldwin of Midwesthoops.com and the No. 6 nationally-ranked point guard. He also is considered a Top 30 all-around player in the high school class of 2001. He averaged 21.3 points, 4.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.1 rebounds as a junior. He shot 59 percent from the field (279-476) and 77 percent (123-160) from the free-throw line. He has been Blackhawk’s starting point guard since his freshman season. The Cougars are 85-11 during that time. Over the last two seasons, Blackhawk is 62-4 with two conference championships and a state title.
