Men’s Basketball Returns to Action vs. Coppin State – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/28/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2000%^$
%^$
%^$
Game Notes in .PDF format%^$
%^$Opponent: Coppin State
%^$Site: Value City Arena (19,200)
%^$Game Time: Noon (EST)
%^$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 (8-3)
%^$G 4-Brent Darby, 6-1, So.
%^$G 21-Boban Savovic, 6-5, Jr.
%^$G 13-Brian Brown , 6-4, Jr.
%^$C 32-Ken Johnson, 6-11, Sr.
%^$F 33-Zach Williams, 6-7, Fr.
%^$
%^$Coppin State Eagles
%^$Probable Starters (4-5)
%^$G 11-Rasheem Sims, 6-2, Jr
%^$G 31-Joe Brown, 6-7, Sr
%^$C 50-Terek Wright, 6-11, Jr
%^$F 32-Larry Tucker, 6-4, Jr
%^$F 21-Michael Poster, 6-4 , Jr
%^$
%^$Buckeyes suffer 1-pt. loss to Jayhawks
%^$Columbus native Kenny Gregory had 17 points in a return to his hometown and No. 9 Kansas survived Brian Brown ‘s two shots in the last 11 seconds to beat Ohio State 69-68. Kansas misfired on the front end of three-consecutive bonus situations while Ohio State ran off the final nine points. The Buckeyes had the ball the final 33.6 seconds. Brown, who led the Buckeyes with 17 points, drove the lane but his off-balance shot in heavy traffic with 11 seconds left ended up bouncing out of bounds off a Kansas player. Inbounding again with 7.6 seconds left, the Buckeyes gave the ball to Brown who drove the left wing. He faked and tried to get Gregory in the air to draw a foul, but Gregory forced Brown to alter his shot. It looped up near the basket and was batted to midcourt by Kansas’ Drew Gooden. Time expired while the ball was rolling near the giant Ohio State logo at center court. Gooden added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Jayhawks, who won their third in a row, while Nick Collison had 10 points. Boban Savovic hit all 10 of his free throws and had 15 points for the Buckeyes, while Ken Johnson had 11 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots and Sean Connolly added 11 points.%^$
%^$Noting the game vs. Kansas
%^$
Ohio State falls to 36-4 during its two-plus seasons at ValueCity Arena. The loss is the Buckeyes’ first at home this season.Kansas won for the first time in Columbus in 35 years (Dec. 23,1965).%^$ Ohio State is 48-99 all-time vs. teams in the AssociatedPress Top 10 following the loss. The Buckeyes are 119-188 all-timevs. teams in the AP Top 25.%^$ Kansas, the No. 1 team in the RPIcomputer ratings, is 10-1 for the first time since 1997-98.%^$ KenJohnson blocked six shots in the contest, giving him 365 for hiscareer, which is ties him for second place all-time in the Big Ten.Johnson tied Iowa’s Acie Earl (1989-93, 365). Next up on the ledgeris the Big Ten’s all-time leading shot blocker, Calvin Booth ofPenn State, with 428.%^$ Johnson’s five blocks in the first halftied the most in a single half by a Kansas opponent in the RoyWilliams era. Kelvin Cato (Iowa State) swatted five shots vs. KU inthe second half on March 10, 1996.%^$ Ohio State extended itsstreak of consecutive games with at least one 3-point goal madewhen Sean Connolly hit a shot from behind the arc at the 12:18 markof the first half. Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-pointgoal in 261-consecutive games.%^$ Saturday’s crowd of 19,200 marksthe 13th sellout in the three-year history of Value City Arena andthe first this season. Ohio State owns an 11-2 record when playingin front of a sellout crowd at VCA.%^$ Ken Johnson started his103rd career game tonight. He stands in seventh place on theall-time OSU starts chart, two behind sixth-place Jim Smith (105,1978-81). Johnson is one of eight players in Ohio State history toeclipse 100 starts in his Buckeye career.%^$ Boban Savovic tied aseason high with 15 points, matching his 15-point performance vs.St. John’s (12/13). He fell one point shy of his career high, setvs. Tennessee-Martin during his freshman season (12/14/98). Savovichit all 10 of his attempts from the foul line.%^$ Kansas committeda season-high 30 fouls. The Jayhawks tied their previous high of 24(DePaul, 12/12) just 10 minutes into the second half. The 30 foulswere the most since 30 vs. Virginia Nov. 29, 1995.%^$ Ohio Statewent 28-of-42 from the free throw line. Both numbers are seasonhighs. Kansas attempted season lows in both free throw categories,hitting 6-of-13.%^$ Ohio State’s 42 free-throw attempts are aseason high for a Kansas opponent, and the most since Nebraska had40 on Feb. 4, 1989.%^$ Tim Martin made a big contribution off thebench, playing a career-high 20 minutes while scoring six points -just two off his career high. Martin’s previous high in minutes was18, set vs. UMass (12/10).%^$ Ohio State is 3-5 all-time vs. Kansasafter the loss and 19-21 vs. teams representing the Big12%^$Conference.%^$
%^$1-pt home loss first since 1988
%^$The 69-68 home loss to Kansas was the first home defeat by 1-point since Michigan State won in overtime 78-77 Feb. 27, 1988. The last home loss to a non-conference opponent by 1-point was to Dayton Dec. 19, 1987 when the Flyers prevailed 81-80. Another Ohio school was the last team to beat OSU in a 1-point game. Toledo escaped with a 64-63 home victory Dec. 5, 1998.%^$
%^$Visitors struggle to win at VCA
%^$Ohio State as lost just four home games in the 3-year history of Value City Arena. The Buckeyes have a combined record of 36-4 all time at the VCA following the loss to Kansas (69-68, 12/23/00). In the four home losses, no team has won by more than three points. The Buckeyes have lost by an average of 2.3 points in the four games. Iowa owns two of the wins over OSU at VCA. The Hawkeyes won 71-68 Jan. 12, 1999 and 67-64 Feb. 9, 2000. Notre Dame gave OSU a 59-57 defeat to start the season last year Nov. 16, 1999.%^$
%^$Brown earns Big Ten honor
%^$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 301-258 (.538) in 19 seasons as a head coach. He has a record of 66-41 (.617), including a record of 58-19 (.753) 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.%^$
%^$Homestand longest since 1910
%^$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), Morehead State (W 93-62, 12/16/00), Robert Morris (W 99-46, 12/20/00) and No. 9 Kansas (L 69-68, 12/23/00). The homestand continues with 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 6-1 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 4.18 blocks a game (46). Junior Brian Brown (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) is No. 3 in steals (2.18). Junior Boban Savovic is No. 3 in assist/turnover ratio with a +2.29 rating.%^$
%^$Robinson out 2-4 weeks
%^$Doylan Robinson (Akron, Ohio/Buchtel), a junior guard, will be out 3-4 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 (.372) and is No. 3 in scoring defense allowing just 57.3 points a game and No. 3 in rebounding defense, allowing foes just 30.4 rebounds a game. The Ohio State offense is No. 3 in scoring margin, with an 18.4 scoring advantage over opponents, field goal percentage .479 (293-612) and No. 2 in turnover margin (+3.55).%^$
%^$Johnson No. 1 on OSU career swat chart
%^$Ken Johnson has 46 blocks on the season for a career total of 365, 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 4.18 blocks a game this season.%^$
%^$Johnson moving up career starts list
%^$Ken Johnson has started 103 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 No. 7 all-time, Johnson will next overtake Jim Smith (1978-81) at No. 6 with 105 starts.%^$
%^$Cal downs Eagles 75-59
%^$Sean Lampley scored 18 points and Ryan Forehan-Kelly added 13 as California beat Coppin State 75-59 last Saturday for its fifth straight victory. Cal (6-3) won its eighth straight home game by taking a big early lead against the Eagles and hanging on. Shantay Legans hit three 3-pointers and had eight assists for the Golden Bears, while Solomon Hughes had 12 points and six rebounds. Coppin State (4-5), lost for the third time in four games. Joe Brown had 24 points for the Eagles, who shot just 38 percent from the field and made 16 turnovers, including five by second-leading scorer Rasheed Sims. Forehan-Kelly had nine points as Cal jumped to a 33-20 halftime lead. Cal will host the Golden Bear Classic next week before starting Pac-10 Conference play.%^$
%^$Noting the Eagles
%^$
While recruiting this past year, the coaching staff at CoppinState tapped into the talent in the West, landing DeMond Huff, JeanPierre and LeMar Ruffin, the first Californians to play for theEagles. Others with connections to the Golden State are juniorcollege transfers Donnell Thomas (San Jose City College) and TerekWright (Los Angeles City College). Thomas also is the first nativeof Mississippi to suit up for Coppin State.%^$ Junior Rasheem Simsentered the season ranked ninth in career assists at Coppin with202.%^$ For the first time in his career, Fang Mitchell will entera season without Derek Brown as his top assistant. Brown, who willserve as special assistant coach, took over the reins of thewomen’s program last December. Brown served under Mitchell for 22seasons.%^$ Assistant Coach Stephanie Ready is just the secondfemale to serve on the bench of a Division I men’s basketballstaff, joining Bernadette Mattox, an assistant at Kentucky from1990-95.%^$ Coppin State is not afraid to play top notch opponents.Last season the Eagles played four Top 25 teams (Connecticut, St.John’s, Purdue, and Auburn), all on the road. This season is nodifferent. Coppin will play at Oklahoma, at California, at OhioState and at Colorado within a two week period.%^$ In 1997 Coppinmade it into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 15 seed in the MidwestRegion. The Eagles upset No. 2-seed South Carolina in the firstround and almost pulled another upset in the second round. However,No. 10-seed Texas hung on for an 82-81 victory.%^$
%^$Leading the Eagles
%^$Senior guard Joe Brown leads the Eagles in scoring with 19.1 points a game. He is followed by junior guard Rasheem Sims at 13.9 ppg., and junior Larry Tucker’s 12.4 ppg. Tucker is the team’s leading rebounder with 6.8 rebounds a contest. Sims is averaging a team best 3.7 assists per game and is the team’s best percentage shooter from the field at 45.7 percent.%^$
%^$Head coach Fang Mitchell
%^$Eagles head coach Fang Mitchell is in his 15th season at Coppin State. He has compiled a record of 269-162 during his tenure. He guided the Eagles to a 15-15 overall record last year and a second-place finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with a 13-5 record.%^$
%^$First meeting with the Eagles
%^$Ohio State will be facing the Eagles for the first time in the history of the two schools. The Buckeyes have an overall record of 6-0 against members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Ohio State has one win apiece against Bethune-Cookman, Delaware State, Florida A&M, Howard, Morgan State and North Carolina A&T. Coppin State, Hampton, Maryland Eastern Shore, Norfolk State and South Carolina State make up the rest of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.%^$
%^$Leading the Buckeyes
%^$Junior Brian Brown leads the Buckeyes offensively with a scoring average of 14.5 points per game. He leads the team in minutes played (32.6 mpg.). Junior Boban Savovic leads the team in 3-point shooting (17-38, .447) and free throw shooting (23-27, .852). 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 53 percent of his shots (43-81). Brown leads in assists with 46 and steals 24.%^$
%^$OSU opponents fare well in polls
%^$Seven 2000-01 Buckeye opponents are rated among the Top 25 in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Another three are receiving votes. Michigan State (1/1), Kansas (7/8), Illinois (9/6), Wisconsin (13/14), Syracuse (15/13), Alabama (20/20) and Iowa (23/21) are rated in the Top 25 in both polls. Penn State, Purdue and Minnesota all are receiving votes in at least one of the polls. Ohio State received one vote for Top 25 consideration in the latest AP poll (12/25/00).%^$
%^$Johnson reaches 300 career blocks, 2nd on Big Ten list
%^$Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 365 blocks in his career after swatting six vs. Kansas. Johnson is tied for second in Big Ten history in career blocks. Calvin Booth of Penn State (1995-99) is the next target at No. 1 with 428 career blocks.%^$
%^$
Big Ten Career Blocked Shots leaders%^$1. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-99 428%^$2. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998- 365%^$ Acie Earl, IOWA 1989-93 365%^$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 36-4 (.900) 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%^$1985-86 26-5 .781%^$
%^$OSU 3-pt FG streak extended to 261
%^$Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 21 games. Sean Connolly extended the streak in the first half against Kansas (12/23/00). 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 253-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 625-606
%^$
%^$Johnson on watch list for Naismith Award
%^$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.%^$
%^$Matt Sylvester (Loveland, Ohio/Moeller), Terence Dials (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman) and Brandon Fuss-Cheatham (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) all signed NCAA National Letters of Intent to play for Ohio State.%^$
%^$Sylvester, a 6-foot-7-inch, 200-pound wing forward, is considered to be among the top two players in Ohio. He is ranked by Prep Spotlight Magazine as one of the Top 60 players in the country. Sylvester played for the powerful Cincinnati AAU program. As a junior, he averaged 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds. As a sophomore, Sylvester helped guide Carl Kremer’s Moeller squad to a Division I State Championship.%^$
%^$Dials, the second recruit from Ohio to sign with the Buckeyes, is a 6-foot-9-inch, 240-pound power forward/center. He gives the Buckeyes an athletic big man. As a junior, Dials averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and 4.0 blocks.%^$
%^$Fuss-Cheatham (6-1, 190) is the No. 1-ranked point guard in the Midwest by Vince Baldwin of Midwesthoops.com and the No. 6 nationally-ranked point guard. He also is considered a Top 30 all-around player in the high school class of 2001. He averaged 21.3 points, 4.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.1 rebounds as a junior. He shot 59 percent from the field (279-476) and 77 percent (123-160) from the free-throw line. He has been Blackhawk’s starting point guard since his freshman season. The Cougars are 85-11 during that time. Over the last two seasons, Blackhawk is 62-4 with two conference championships and a state title.%^$
