Men’s Basketball Welcomes Massachusetts to Value City Arena – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 8, 2000%^$
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Game Notes in .PDF format%^$
%^$Opponent: Massachusetts
%^$Site: Value City Arena (19,100)
%^$Game Time: 5 p.m. (EST)
%^$TV: ESPN Plus
%^$Local TV: WBNS-TV 10
%^$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)
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%^$Ohio State Buckeyes
%^$Probable Starters (4-2)
%^$G 3-Sean Connolly, 6-4, So.
%^$G 21-Boban Savovic, 6-5, Jr.
%^$G 13-Brian Brown, 6-4, Jr.
%^$C 32-Ken Johnson, 6-11, Sr.
%^$F 33-Zach Williams, 6-7, Fr.
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%^$Massachusetts
%^$Probable Starters (1-4)
%^$G 5-Monty Mack, 6-3, Sr.
%^$G 30-Shannon Crooks, 6-2, Jr.
%^$C 33-Kitwana Rhymer, 6-10, Sr.
%^$F 2-Jackie Rogers, 6-8, Jr.
%^$F 20-Winston Smith, 6-5, Sr.
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%^$Ohio State to host NCAA Tournament 1st, 2nd rounds in 2004
%^$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.%^$
%^$O’Brien close to win No. 300
%^$Jim O’Brien is closing on career win No. 300 as a collegiate head coach. O’Brien is 297-257 (.536) in 19 seasons as a head coach. He has a record of 62-40 (.608), including a record of 54-18 (.750) 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).%^$
%^$Johnson 2nd in Big Ten
%^$Ohio State senior Ken Johnson (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) dropped to No. 2 in the Big Ten with an average of 3.2 blocks a game. Buckeye junior Boban Savovic (East Side N.J./Montenegro, Yugoslavia) is second in the assist/turnover ratio with 25 assists and just eight turnovers on the season for a +3.13 ratio. Junior Brian Brown (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) is 10th in scoring with 16.3 points a game. He is fifth in free throw shooting (19-21, .905) and 10th, with Savovic, in assists (4.20 apg.).%^$
%^$Robinson out 2-4 weeks
%^$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.%^$
%^$Buckeye defense rated among best in the Big Ten
%^$Ohio State rates No. 2 among Big Ten teams in scoring defense allowing just 57.3 points a game. Opponents are connecting on just 36.2 percent of their shots, which ranks Ohio State No. 2 in field goal percentage defense. Foes are hitting only 30.1 percent of their 3-point attempts, which has OSU again No. 3 in 3-point field goal percentage defense. The Ohio State offense is No. 2 in scoring margin, with a 19.0 scoring advantage over opponents. The Buckeyes are No. 1 in turnover margin (+4.50) and No. 3 in assist/turnover ratio (+1.23).%^$
%^$Buckeyes handle Pioneers
%^$Ken Johnson scored 16 points and Ohio State’s pressure defense forced an arena-record 32 turnovers in an 83-46 victory over Denver Thursday. The 32 turnovers are the most by one team in the three years Value City Arena has been open. Army had turned the ball over 27 times in a 1998 loss to the Buckeyes. Brent Darby added 12 points and Brian Brown had 11 for Ohio State. All 13 players on the roster scored. B.J. Pratt scored 17 points for Denver (2-4), which came in averaging 18 turnovers a game. Ohio State hit 64 percent of its shots in the first half, but it was what happened at the other end of the floor that was even more decisive as the Buckeyes took a 43-18 lead. The Pioneers totaled 18 turnovers – going 8 minutes without scoring. Over a span of 11 possessions, Denver had nine turnovers, had a shot blocked and put up an air ball. Kevin Overton’s rebound follow at the 14:05 mark tied the game at 11. The Pioneers didn’t score again until B.J. Pratt’s 3-pointer at the 4:22 mark. While Ohio State was running off 19-consecutive points, Denver was missing all six of its shots from the field with nine turnovers.%^$
%^$Noting the win over Denver
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Ohio State is 32-3 in three seasons at Value City Arena.%^$ TheBuckeyes are 3-1 vs. Denver and 10-5 vs. the Sun BeltConference.%^$ Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-pointfield goal attempt over the last 256 games. Sean Connolly extendedthe streak at the 16:20 mark in the first half vs. Denver.%^$ Witha 2-point basket at the buzzer by Boban Savovic, the Buckeyes tooka 43-18 lead into the locker room at halftime. This marks thesecond-consecutive game which the Buckeyes have held a 25-pointdifferential at the break. The 25 points is the second-largesthalftime margin in Value City Arena history. The only larger marginat the break was when the Buckeyes held a 58-25 lead vs. Oakland(11-13-98), the first game ever played at Value City Arena.%^$ Withthe game tied 11-11 at the 14:03 mark in the first half, theBuckeyes went on a 19-0 run opening a 30-11 lead. The Buckeyedefense held the Pioneers scoreless for a 9:42 stretch.%^$ Juniorguard Brian Brown scored 11 points vs. Denver. Brown now has 21double figure scoring games in his career, including all six gamesthis season.%^$ The Buckeye defense held the Pioneers to 40.0percent shooting from the field. So far this season, Ohio State hasheld 5-of-6 opponents to 40.0 percent shooting or below.%^$ TheOhio State defense also forced 32 Denver turnovers. The 32 Pioneerturnovers are the most turnovers by an Ohio State opponent in ValueCity Arena history.%^$ Ken Johnson failed to register a blockedshot vs. Denver. This ends a 41-game streak for Johnson with atleast one block. The last game that Johnson went an entire gamewithout a blocking a shot was vs. Illinois in the Big TenTournament (3/6/99).%^$ Ken Johnson tied a season high with his 16points vs. Denver. Johnson also scored 16 points in the openinggame of the Great Alaskan Shootout vs. Florida State (11/23/00).%^$
%^$Flint in fifth year with the Minutemen
%^$UMass head coach James “Bruiser” Flint, a 1987 graduate of St. Joseph’s, has an overall record of 72-61 in five seasons in Amherst.%^$
%^$UMass to meet Buckeyes for first time
%^$Ohio State and Massachusetts have never met in men’s basketball. The Buckeyes have a 16-11 record over teams representing the Atlantic 10 Conference.%^$
%^$EAST
%^$Fordham
%^$Massachusetts
%^$Rhode Island
%^$St. Bonaventure 1-0
%^$St. Joseph’s (PA) 3-0
%^$Temple 2-1
%^$WEST
%^$Dayton 3-2
%^$Duquesne 2-0
%^$George Washington 2-2
%^$La Salle 1-1
%^$Virginia Tech 0-4
%^$Xavier (OH) 2-1
%^$Totals 16-11
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%^$UMass drops home game to Providence
%^$Erron Maxey’s clutch shooting allowed Providence to overcome a pair of 9-point deficits early in the second half to beat Massachusetts 85-70 Thursday. Maxey shared scoring honors with John Linehan – each with 17 points – and sparked a 10-0 run that put the Friars in front for good. With the teams tied at 63 with 6:46 to play, Maxey made four straight hoops, followed by a pair from the line by Chris Rogers to give Providence a 73-63 advantage with 3:08 remaining. UMass, which has lost four in a row, blew the lead it took going into the half and never made a serious run in the closing minutes of the game. Abdul Mills’ 16 points and Karim Shabazz’s 10 were the other big producers for Providence. UMass was led by Monty Mack with 19 points, followed by Kitwama Rhymer with 16. Providence shot a lowly 35.5 (11-31) in the first half while UMass was shooting 50 percent (14-28) for a 35-29 lead. But the roles were reversed in the second half, when UMass’ shooting dropped to 32.4 percent and Providence’s surged to 54.8 percent.%^$
%^$Mack leads Minutemen
%^$Senior guard Monty Mack is the leading scorer for the Minutemen with 18.5 points per game. He has made double (12-39) the number of 3-pointers than nearest teammate Jonathan DePina (6-11). Micah Brand and Eric Williams lead the team in rebounding with 4.6 rpg.%^$
%^$Johnson No. 1 on OSU career swat chart
%^$Ken Johnson has 19 blocks on the season for a career total of 338, 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 3.2 blocks a game this season.%^$
%^$Johnson closing on 100 career starts
%^$Ken Johnson has started 98 career games as a Buckeye since the 1997-98 season. With two more starts, he will become 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 16.3 points per game. He also has been deadly accurate from the foul line, hitting 19-of-21 attempts for a shooting percentage of 91 percent. He is second behind Boban Savovic (9-20, .450) from 3-point range (11-25, .435) and has played a team best 31.5 minutes per game. Ken Johnson is the team’s leading rebounder with 5.8 a game. He is the most accurate Buckeye from the field as well hitting 55 percent of his shots (27-49). Brown and Savovic are tied for the team lead in assists with 25.%^$
%^$Buckeyes scoring well from foul line
%^$Ohio State has connected on 75 percent of its foul shots (95-126). Starters Brian Brown, Ken Johnson, Boban Savovic and Zach Williams are a combined 51-62 (.823).%^$
%^$OSU opponents fare well in polls
%^$Six 2000-01 Buckeye opponents are rated among the Top 25 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Another seven foes are receiving votes for Top 25 consideration. Michigan State (2/2), Kansas (3/4), Illinois (9/7), Syracuse (20/19, Wisconsin (17/20), St. John’s (24/24) are rated in the Top 25 in both polls. Alabama (AP No. 23), Purdue, Iowa, Penn State and Minnesota all are receiving votes in at least one of the polls..%^$
%^$Johnson reaches 300 career blocks, 4th on Big Ten list
%^$Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 338 blocks in his career after swatting three against Eastern Kentucky. Johnson is fourth in Big Ten history in career blocks. Joe Barry Carroll of Purdue (1977-80) is the next target for Johnson at No. 3 with 349 career blocks.%^$
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Big Ten Career Blocked Shots leaders%^$1. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-99 428%^$2. Acie Earl, IOWA 1989-93 365%^$3. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-80 349%^$4. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998- 338%^$5. Herb Williams, OSU 1977-81 328%^$
%^$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.%^$
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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 has 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 32-3 (.914) 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%^$1985-86 26-5 .781%^$
%^$OSU 3-pt FG streak extended to 256
%^$Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 256 games. Sean Connolly extended the streak early in the first half against Denver (12/7/00). 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 248-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
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%^$Johnson on watch list for Naismith Award
%^$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.
