Men’s Basketball Hosts Robert Morris Wednesday Night – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2000
Game Notes in .PDF format
Opponent: Robert Morris
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 (7-2)
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.
Robert Morris Colonials
Probable Starters (1-9)
G 5-Eric Casey-Ford, 6-5, Jr.
G 11-Ricky Richburg, 5-10, Jr.
C 54-Matt Smith, 6-9, Jr.
F 23-Wesley Fluellen, 6-5, Jr.
F 42-Aaron Thomas, 6-7, Fr.
Brown earns Big Ten honor
Ohio State junior guard Brian Brown was selected the co-Big Ten Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he led a group of five OSU players who averaged double figures last week in wins over St. John’s and Morehead State at Value City Arena. It is Brown’s first Big Ten Player of the Week award as a member of the Buckeyes. Brown paced Ohio State with a 14.0 scoring average, which included game-high scoring honors (18 pts.) in the 71-58 home win over St. John’s. Brown connected on 65 percent of his shots from the field (11-17) last week while averaging 5.5 assists and 2.0 steals. Brown shared honors with senior Roy Boone of Wisconsin.
O’Brien reaches career win No. 300
Jim O’Brien earned career win No. 300 as a collegiate head coach with the 93-62 win over Morehead St. (12/16/00). O’Brien is 300-257 (.539) in 19 seasons as a head coach. He has a record of 65-40 (.619), including a record of 57-18 (.760) 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.
Connolly leads OSU over Morehead State
Sean Connolly scored 15 points and hit two 3-pointers in a 16-4 first-half surge as Ohio State beat Morehead State 93-62 Saturday. Will Dudley came off the bench to score 12 points and Zach Williams added 12 points and 11 rebounds for Ohio State. Brian Brown had 10 points and seven assists and Ken Johnson also had 10 points for the Buckeyes, who led by as many as 35 points in the second half. David Aliu and Ricky Minard each scored 12 points and Marquis Sykes had 11 for Morehead State.
Noting the win over Morehead St.
Ohio State improves to 35-3 during its two-plus seasons atValue City Arena. The Buckeyes are undefeated (6-0) this year athome. Ohio State extended its streak of consecutive games with atleast one 3-point goal made when Boban Savovic drilled a shot frombehind the arc early in the first half. Ohio State has connected onat least one 3-point goal in 259-consecutive games. Johnson startedhis 101st career game, moving into a seventh-place tie with TroyTaylor (1982-85) on the all-time games started chart. Johnson isone of eight players in Ohio State history to eclipse 100 starts inhis Buckeye career. Ken Johnson blocked one shot in the contest,giving him 352 for his career, which is third all-time in the BigTen. Johnson stands 13 blocks behind Iowa’s Acie Earl (1989-93,365). Sean Connolly nailed 5-of-6 (.833) shots from 3-point range,marking the fifth time in his career he has hit five or more fromlong range. His game 3-point field goal percentage is thesecond-best in school history, tying him with Damon Stringer’s .833(5-6) vs. Northwestern in 1996 and Jamaal Brown’s .833 (5-6) at USCin 1991. Connolly has drilled at least one 3-point field goal inhis last 14 games, dating back to his freshman year at Providence.The last time Connolly failed to connect from long distance wasFeb. 15, 1999, an 0-for-3 performance at St. John’s. Ohio State hasheld a double-digit lead in every game it has led at halftime. TheBuckeyes are 7-0 in those contests. Brian Brown tied a career highwith seven assists. It marks the third time in his career thatBrown has recorded seven assists. Will Dudley tied a career-highwith 12 points in the contest, matching his 12-point performancefrom last year vs. Florida A&M (12/11/99). After his nine-pointperformance in the prior game vs. St. John’s, Dudley has scored 21points during the past two games. That marks the best back-to-backscoring performances in his career. His previous best was 18, setlast year with a 6-point performance vs. Duquesne and a 12-pointoutput vs. Florida A&M. Zach Williams earned his first careerdouble-double, scoring 12 points while grabbing a career-high 11rebounds. Williams joins Ken Johnson as the only current Buckeyesto have recorded a double-double. The contest was the first betweenOhio State and Morehead State. Ohio State has a 9-0 record all-timevs. teams from the Ohio Valley Conference, including a 2-0 markthis year. Ohio State’s 93 points are by far the most pointsMorehead State has given up this season. The previous high was 73by Huntington. Morehead State was first in the OVC in scoringdefense (64.0) entering the game.
Buckeyes look for 6th-consecutive win
Ohio State will be looking to win for the sixth-consecutive time vs. Robert Morris. Ohio State last won six in a row in the middle of last season from Jan. 9 to Feb. 6.
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), St. John’s (W 71-58, 12/13/00) and Morehead State (W 93-62, 12/16/00). Games remain against 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 campaign. The Buckeyes were 9-1 in that homestand. The Buckeyes are currently 5-0 in the most recent home streak.
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) holds No. 1 spot in the Big Ten with an average of 3.67 blocks a game (33). Junior Brian Brown (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) is No. 2 in steals (2.22).
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 (.362) and is No. 3 in scoring defense allowing just 57.2 points a game and in rebounding defense, allowing foes just 29.7 rebounds a game.. Foes are hitting only .323 percent of their 3-point attempts, which has OSU again No. 6 in 3-point field goal percentage defense. The Ohio State offense is No. 2 in scoring margin, with a 17.9 scoring advantage over opponents, field goal percentage .477 (242-507) and turnover margin (+2.78).
Johnson No. 1 on OSU career swat chart
Ken Johnson has 33 blocks on the season for a career total of 352, 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 3.67 blocks a game this season.
Johnson moving up career starts list
Ken Johnson has started 101 career games as a Buckeye since the 1997-98 season. He is one of only eight Buckeyes to reach 100 or more career starts. Currently tied for No. 7 all-time, Johnson will next overtake Jim Smith (1978-81) at No. 6 with 105 starts.
OSU 3-0 vs. Robert Morris
Ohio State has a record of 3-0 all time vs. Robert Morris and an overall mark of 7-0 against members of the Northeast Conference. Ohio State has one victory over Central Connecticut, LIU-Brooklyn, Maryland-Baltimore County and Mount Saint Mary’s in addition to its 3-0 mark vs. the Colonials.
Ohio Connection
Five players on the Robert Morris roster are from Ohio. Freshmen John Caruso (Rocky River) and Bobby Davenport (Lima), sophomore Josh Steele (Shelby) and juniors Wesley Fluellen (Cleveland) and Matt Smith (Mansfield) all left the Buckeye State to play for the Colonials.
Fluellen paces Colonials
Junior forward Wesley Fluellen is the leading scorer for Robert Morris with an average of 12.0 points per game. He is an 80 percent free throw shooter (28-35) and leads the team with 44 field goals and a shooting percentage of .494 (44-89). Junior center Matt Smith is the team’s leading rebounder with 4.2 a contest.
Colonials offense struggles
After its first 10 games, the Robert Morris offensive unit has been outscored 78.2-65.2. Colonial opponents are connecting on 46 percent of their shots from the field and nearly 40 percent of 3-point field goal attempts.
Free throws pay off
Robert Morris is connecting on 75 percent of its free throw attempts as a team. The Colonials have made 157 of 209 attempts while opponents have attempted 184 free throws, making 117. Opponents are shooting 64 percent from the foul line.
Road weary
The Robert Morris Colonials took to road for three non-conference games after finals traveling to three games within a three-hour’s drive of Moon Township, Pa. The Colonials traveled to West Virginia (Dec. 16, L 77-56) before meeting Ohio State and Pittsburgh (Dec. 28).
Former Bobcat leads Robert Morris
Danny Nee is in his first year at Robert Morris after spending the last 14 at Nebraska and the six prior to that at Ohio University. He was appointed RMC’s fifth head coach on April 13, 2000. Nee is the Huskers’ all-time winningest coach with a mark 254-189 (.573) between 1986 and 2000. His overall record in this, his 21st collegiate head-coaching season, is 362-265. He led Nebraska to 11 postseason tournament appearances (5 NCAA/6 NIT), including the 1996 National Invitation Tournament title and took the Bobcats to three postseason tournaments (2 NCAA/1 NIT).
Tough Break
Junior shooting guard Tyler Bacon (Towanda, Kan./Cloud County C.C.) had surgery Oct. 19 to repair a broken left foot suffered five days earlier in the Colonials’ first practice of the year. Bacon, who averaged 15.5 points and 5.1 rebounds at Cloud County last year, will be sidelined through the middle of December.
Three-Ball, Corner Pocket
Robert Morris has made at least one three-point field goal in 207 straight games, dating back to Feb. 25, 1993, in a game against Marist.
Personnel-Wise
Forward Robert Shirley (Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y./Erie C.C.) will miss the remainder of the 2000-01 season because of a chronic left foot injury suffered during practice, it was announced on Dec. 12. Shirley, a medical redshirt last year because of a stress fracture in that same foot, is in his final year of athletic eligibility. Through nine games this year, the 6-7, 215-pound Shirley is first on the team in rebounding (5.1 rebounds per game) and second on the team in scoring (11.4 points per game).
Leading the Buckeyes
Junior Brian Brown leads the Buckeyes offensively with a scoring average of 14.0 points per game. He also has been deadly accurate from the foul line, hitting 25-of-30 attempts for a shooting percentage of 83 percent. He leads the team in minutes played (33.2, mpg.). Sophomore Sean Connolly leads the team in 3-point shooting (16-35, .457). Ken Johnson is the team’s leading rebounder with 6.1 a game. He is the most accurate Buckeye from the field as well hitting 55 percent of his shots (39-71). Brown leads in assists with 40 and steals 20.
OSU opponents fare well in polls
Seven 2000-01 Buckeye opponents are rated among the Top 25 in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Another four are receiving votes. Michigan State (2/2), Illinois (5/5), Kansas (9/9), Syracuse (12/10), Wisconsin (16/15), Alabama (17/18) and Iowa (19/21) are rated in the Top 25 in both polls. Penn State, Indiana, Purdue and Minnesota all are receiving votes in at least one of the polls. Ohio State received two votes for Top 25 consideration in the latest AP poll (12/18/00).
Johnson reaches 300 career blocks, 3rd on Big Ten list
Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 352 blocks in his career after swatting one Morehead State shot. Johnson is third in Big Ten history in career blocks. Acie Earl of Iowa (1989-93) is the next target 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- 352 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 35-3 (.921) 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 259
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 259 games. Boban Savovic extended the streak early in the first half against Morehead St. (12/16/00). 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 251-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.
