#8 Buckeyes Host the Badgers – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2000
No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (13-3, 4-1)
G 12-Scoonie Penn, 5-10, Sr.
G 22-Michael Redd, 6-6, Jr.
G 13-Brian Brown, 6-3, So.
C 32-Ken Johnson, 6-11, Sr.
F 34-Cobe Ocokoljic, 6-8, Fr.
Wisconsin Badgers
Probable Starters (11-9, 3-5)
G 22-Mike Kelley, 6-3, Jr.
G 20-Kirk Penney, 6-5, Fr.
G 10-Jon Bryant , 6-2, Sr.
F 50-Mark Vershaw, 6-9, Jr.
F 15-Andy Kowske, 6-8, Jr.
Johnson earns 1st POW in 1999-00
Ohio State senior center Ken Johnson (6-11, Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) continued to build a case for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year with his seven blocks against Purdue (1/29). He added 10 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and fourth of his career. His efforts against Purdue earned him the Big Ten Player of the Week, the first for an OSU player this year. Johnson now has 93 blocks on the season, which ranks third all-time at Ohio State for blocks in a season. Johnson also holds the single-season record, set last year when he swatted 100 shots as a junior. He is currently leading the nation in blocks per game at 5.5 per game. Johnson’s seven rejections vs. Purdue marked the sixth time this season he has turned back seven or more shots. He has 18 blocks in the last two games, including his OSU single-game record of 11 at St. John’s last week. Johnson’s defense is only part of the story. Offensively, he is much improved over last season when he connected on 52 percent of his shots. This season he has upped that mark to 58 percent after a 5-9 outing vs. the Boilermakers. He also recorded his third double-double of the season vs. Purdue with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson is the first OSU player to receive a Big Ten Player of the Week Award since Feb. 22, 1999 when Scoonie Penn earned the honor. 2-year home record rates high in OSU history
Ohio State has compiled a 25-2 (.926) record over the last two season in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes were 14-1 in the inaugural season in VCA last season and so far boast an 11-1 record at home in 1999-00. In back-to-back season in which the Buckeyes have won at least 25 wins at home, the current record of 25-2 stands fourth all-time for home record in consecutive seasons. The 1962-63 teams posted a record 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 25-2 .926 1985-86 26-5 .839 1982-83 25-5 .833 1986-87 26-7 .788 1985-86 26-5 .781
OSU owns longest Big Ten winning streak over the Badgers
Ohio State will be looking for its fifth-consecutive win over Wisconsin over the last three seasons when the teams meet in Columbus (2/2/00). Ohio State has not won five-consecutive games over a Big Ten foe since an eight game winning streak over Northwestern from 1990-94 and a five-game run over Penn State from 1992-94.
Buckeyes win battle with Boilermakers
In a rough-and-tumble battle that saw players hitting the deck on a regular basis, Ohio State got six points from Michael Redd in a late 13-2 run to get by Purdue, 68-59. With the Buckeyes on top 48-46 with 8:41 left, Redd, who finished with 14 points, hit a shot from the lane. After Penn hit a foul shot, Redd scored inside and then hit a fastbreak layup off an alley-oop from Penn. Penn then added a layup of his own before George Reese and Ken Johnson scored on rebound follows to put Ohio State ahead 61-48. The lead never dropped below seven again. The win was the sixth in a row for Ohio State, which has won 10 of its last 11. Play was stopped for 10 minutes in the second half while the officiating crew watched a video tape of the previous play. Just after Penn released a 3-pointer, a whistle away from the ball sent Brian Brown to the line. Brown hit both free throws to give Ohio State a 48-42 lead with 9:49 left. After Purdue inbounded and went through a sequence of its offense, Carson Cunningham was fouled. But before he could shoot the free throws, the officials knelt around a courtside monitor for several minutes. A Value City Arena capacity crowd of 19,100 booed and Keady and O’Brien paced the sidelines with exasperated expressions on their faces. The officials decided that Reese, not Brown, should have shot the foul shots at the other end. Brown’s points were taken off the scoreboard and Reese was sent to the line — 28 seconds having run off the clock since the earlier foul. After Reese made both, Cunningham then took his shots before play resumed. Johnson, the nation’s leading shot blocker, scored 10 points and had 10 rebounds to go with seven blocks. Reese added 10 points. Cunningham matched his season high with 19 points, with Brian Cardinal and Greg McQuay each scoring 11. Cardinal also had 11 rebounds.
Noting the win over Purdue
Ohio State improves to 14-3 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten,moving into a tie for first place with Michigan State. Purdue dropsto 13-7 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play with the defeat. OSU is now25-2 all-time at Value City Arena. The Boilermakers lead theall-time series 77-67. Michael Redd moved into 8th place all-timeat OSU in scoring with his 14-point effort. Redd now has 1, 617career points. He passed Perry Carter who scored 1,613 in hiscareer at OSU. Redd is just five points behind No. 7 Dave Sorensonwho ended his OSU career with 1,622 points. With 19 points ScooniePenn passed the 1,600-point mark. Penn, who spent two years atBoston College has 1, 610 career points. Penn tallied 737 while atBC and has 873 at Ohio State. Scoonie Penn passed the 400-reboundmark with his two rebounds. He now has 401 career rebounds. KenJohnson recorded his third double-double of the season with 10points and 10 rebounds. His previous double-doubles came againstToledo (12/22/99) and Wisconsin (1/13/99). Ken Johnson is now tiedfor 6th on the all-time Big Ten list for blocked shots with 251. Heties Michigan’s Roy Tarpley (1982-86). Johnson needs 57 more blocksto pass former Buckeye Brad Sellers (1981-86). With his sevenblocks Johnson moves into 3rd on the OSU single season blockedshots chart. He now has 93 blocks on the season needing just sevenmore to tie his previous record of 100. He set the record forblocked shots in a season last season. Ohio State now is 9-1 whenleading at the half and 12-1 when its opponent scores less than 70points. Ohio State now is 18-4 when ranked vs. Purdue. The lasttime Purdue defeated a ranked Ohio State team was in 1991 whenunranked Purdue won 72-67 over the No. 2 Buckeyes in WestLafayette. Ohio State extended its 3-point field goal streak to237. Scoonie Penn extended the streak half-way through the firsthalf. The last time OSU team missed all attempts from 3-point rangewas Feb. 2, 1992 when the Buckeyes went 0 for 5 in a 68-58 OSU winover Michigan.
Redd moves to 8th in career scoring
Michael Redd is in 8th place all-time at OSU in scoring with 1,617 career points after a 14 point effort against Purdue (1/29/00). Redd is just five points behind No. 7 Dave Sorenson (1968-70). Sorenson ended his OSU career with 1,622 points.
OSU vs. the Top 10
Ohio State played its second Top 10 team of the season against the No. 10 Spartans of Michigan State. The Buckeyes lost 80-67 earlier this season to No. 8 Kansas in Lawrence but ended MSU’s 21-game Big Ten winning streak with a 78-67 victory Jan. 20 in Columbus. All-Time, Ohio State has a 49-99 record against teams ranked in the AP Top 10. OSU defeated No. 9 St. John’s in the South Regional Finals last season in Knoxville to advance to the Final Four. The Buckeyes won that game 77-74.
OSU record when ranked in Top 10
No. 8 Ohio State opened the season ranked No. 4 but fell to No. 15 following a 59-57 loss to Notre Dame in the opening round of the NIT. Ohio State has a record of 187-48 (.796) in games when the Buckeyes are ranked among the Associated Press Top 10 teams in the nation.
Ohio State owns edge in big games
When Ohio State is ranked and plays a ranked opponent, the Buckeyes have a 51-36 record all-time. OSU has taken an Associated Press ranking into games against ranked foes four times this season. Ohio State lost to No. 8 Kansas 80-67 earlier this season on the road before dropping an 80-77 contest to No. 19 Illinois in Champaign. OSU was ranked No. 12 and No. 13 respectively in those defeats. OSU rose to No. 8 this week after a 78-67 win over No. 10 Michigan State and a 65-64 win over No. 19 St. John’s.
Buckeye schedule toughens
Ohio State will play at least six teams ranked among the AP Top 25 this season with the possibility to add a few more down the road. The Buckeyes already met No. 8 Kansas and No. 19 Illinois, No. 10 Michigan State and No. 19 St. John’s. OSU will travel to No. 9 MSU and will play No. 14 Indiana. Michigan, Purdue and Illinois are getting votes in the AP Top 25 poll. .
Penn, Redd battle for scoring lead
The Ohio State guard duo of Michael Redd and Scoonie Penn each have lead the Buckeyes in scoring this season. Penn is the current leader with 15.5 points per game. Redd is close at 15.1 ppg. Penn has scored 264 points followed by Redd with 256.
Redd among 30 finalists for Wooden Award, Penn still being considered
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd is listed among the 30 finalists for the 2000 John R. Wooden Award. Ohio State senior Scoonie Penn is still under consideration but is not listed among the mid-season Top 30.
OSU guards successful at foul line
The OSU guard rotation of Michael Redd, Scoonie Penn, Brian Brown and Brent Darby have been deadly from the foul line this season. Redd has made 36 of 43 shots (.837) followed by Brown (33-40, .825), Penn (58-76, .763) and Darby (12-17, .706). Combined, the four have made 139 of 176 for 79.0 percent accuracy.
Johnson records 200th career block, now tied for 6th on Big Ten list
Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 251 blocks in his career after swatting seven against Purdue (1/29). Johnson is just the second Buckeye and the 12th Big Ten player to reach 200 career blocks. Johnson is currently tied for sixth with Michigan’s Roy Tarpley (1982-86) with 251 rejections. Herb Williams (1977-81) leads OSU and is fourth all-time among Big Ten players with 328 rejections. OSU’s Brad Sellers is the next target on the all-time Big Ten list. Sellers recorded 307 career blocks at Wisconsin and Ohio State from 1981-86.
Big Ten Career Block Shot leaders 1. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-99 428 2. Acie Earl, IOWA 1989-93 365 3. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-80 349 4. Herb Williams, OSU 1977-81 328 5. Brad Sellers, WIS-OSU 1981-86 307 6. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998- 251 Roy Tarpley, MICH 1982-86 251 8. Kevin McHale, MINN 1976-80 235 9. Greg Stokes, IOWA 1981-85 229 10.Randy Breuer, MINN 1979-83 228
Johnson, Buckeyes leading Big Ten in several categories
Ohio State senior center Ken Johnson is leading Big Ten players and the nation in blocks this season. Johnson is sending back 5.5 shots per game with 93 blocks on the year. As a team, the Buckeyes are first among Big Ten teams in field goal percentage defense (.359) and blocked shots (7.0). The Buckeyes are second in scoring defense (58.2), rebound margin (+5.8) and turnover margin (+2.94).
Penn makes 100th career collegiate start vs. Toledo
Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn made the 100th start of his career against Toledo (12/22). Penn has started every game in which he has appeared over two seasons at Boston College and two at Ohio State. As an Eagle at BC, Penn started 56 games from 1995-97. To date at OSU, Penn has 53 starts over the last two seasons.
Redd begins another double-figure scoring streak
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd has appeared in 83 games as a Buckeye. He has failed to reach double figures in scoring just three times, a nine-point effort vs. BYU (12/30/97), an eight-point outing at Michigan (1/16/99) and a career-low four-point outing against Oakland (12/27/99). Redd had scored in double figures in 26-consecutive games before the Oakland game. He scored 10 or more in 34-consecutive contests after the BYU game his freshman season. He has reached double digits in his last eight games, including the 14-point effort vs. Purdue (1/29/00)
Johnson likely has made final move on OSU career swat chart
Ohio State senior center Ken Johnson likely made his final assault on the Buckeye career blocked shots chart with his eight-rejection night against Eastern Kentucky, which moved him into second-place all-time (251) at Ohio State in career blocks. Johnson trails the 328 recorded blocks by Buckeye great Herb Williams (1978-81) by 77. Johnson averaged 1.9 bpg (58/30 gms.) as a sophomore, 2.8 bpg. (100/36 gms.) as a junior and 5.5 bpg. (93/17 gms.) so far this season. If he keeps up his current pace he could still reach Williams’ record. Ohio State has at least 11 games remaining (10 regular season, one in the Big Ten Tournament). Johnson could reach the record on his current pace in 14 games.
Redd, Penn reach 1,600 career points
The Ohio State guard tandem of senior Scoonie Penn and junior Michael Redd each reached career point 1,600 this season. Redd has 1,617 career points, good for eighth on the OSU career list. Penn, who spent two seasons at Boston College, has scored 1,610 career points. Penn tallied 737 while at BC and has 873 at Ohio State.
Penn closing in on OSU 1,000 point club
In just his second season in Columbus, Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn is nearing the 1,000 club at Ohio State. Penn will be the 38th player in OSU history to reach 1,000 career points with 127 more this season. Penn scored 609 as an OSU junior and has 264 this year. Penn could become just the second player to record 1,000 points in his only two seasons as a Buckeye. Brad Sellers (1985-86) was the first to do so with 1,122 points in his career.
Team Notes
Ohio State has scored 70 or more points in 10 games this season and has a 9-1 record in those games…Ohio State has held 12 of 17 opponents under 65 points this season and has an 11-1 record in those games…OSU has reached double digits in offensive rebounds in all but two games this season (7 vs. Vermont and Northwestern)…Ohio State has blocked at least one opponent shot in the last 54 games (0 vs. Penn State, 2/28/98)–Ken Johnson has started the last 53 games.
Numerically noting the Buckeyes
Scoonie Penn: Penn reached 100 career starts vs. Toledo(12/22)…he has 53 at Ohio State…Penn has played 30 or moreminutes in 14 games this season, including all 40 at Kansas(12/16)…since failing to record a steal in the season openeragainst Notre Dame, Penn has at least one theft in 16-consecutivecontests…he has 194 thefts in his career, 106 at Ohio State…asmall but mighty rebounder, Penn is averaging nearly five boards acontest…he has 401 career rebounds (3.7 rpg.). Michael Redd: Reddhas started all 83 games in his career…he claimed 8th on the OSUcareer scoring list with 14 points vs. Purdue (1/29)…Redd has1,617 career points…Redd is 36 of 43 (.837) from the foul linethis year…he is a career 64 percent free throw shooter(301-474)…Redd has connected on at least one 3-pointer in 13 of17 games this season…Redd reached 300 career free throws and 500career rebounds in the win over St. John’s…he has 511 careerrebounds for an average of 6.2 rpg. Ken Johnson: Johnson hasstarted the last 53 games at center…Johnson has 251 career blocksand is averaging 5.5 bpg. (93) this season…he set a single gameschool record with 11 blocks at St. John’s (1/22)…he owns thesingle season record for blocks with 100 as a junior…his 93 thisseason is the ranks third for blocks in a season at OSU…Johnsonhas 21 career games with five or more blocks, he had three as afreshman, seven last year and 11 this season in 17 games…Johnsonis a career 52 percent shooter from the field (231-443) and isconnecting on 58 percent this season (54-93). Brian Brown: Brownhas doubled his offensive output this season with an average of 9.8points a game…he averaged 4.1 as a freshman…he also is shooting31 percent better from the foul line…Brown shot just 51.9 percentas a freshman (27-52) from the free-throw line…this season, Brownhas connected on 33-40 (.825)…he has made 62 of 106 field goalattempts (.585) this season after shooting 39 percent as afreshman…Brown has scored in double figures in nine games thisseason after reaching 10 points just twice as a freshman…OSU is9-2 when Brown reaches double figures Cobe Ocokoljic: Ocokoljiccracked the starting lineup vs. Oakland (12/27)…he has playeddouble-figure minutes in 10 of 17 games and six of the last 11,including a career-high 32 minutes vs. American (12/29). GeorgeReese: Reese has doubled his offensive output from a year ago…heaveraged 5.5 points last season and is third on the team this yearat 11.2 ppg…he connected on 42 percent of his shots as a junior(73-174) but has upped that percentage to 48 percent this year(78-161)…he scored 18-second half points on his way to a careerhigh 24 vs. Illinois (1/6/00) and had 19 points in the win over No.10 Michigan State (1/20/00). Boban Savovic: Savovic has beenbothered most of the season with ankle injuries…he has appearedin just 10 games this season and has connected on 9 of 24 shotsfrom the field…he suffered a lower left leg bruise in the winover Purdue (1/29). Brent Darby: Darby made a huge 3-pointer with7:02 remaining in the second half vs. Wisconsin (1/13) for his onlypoints of the game…he has made 57 percent of his 3-pointers thisseason (8-14)…eight of his 11 field goals this season have been3-pointers. Will Dudley: Dudley is a career 65 percent shooter fromthe field…he has connected on 34-52 shots from the field in 32career games…he has made 20-31 (.645) shots this season.
Blocks, steals excels OSU defense
Ohio State, led by senior center Ken Johnson’s 93 blocks, has rejected 119 shots this season while foes have just 48. Senior guard Scoonie Penn leads the team with 36 steals. OSU leads opponents 101-89 in thefts.
Buckeyes spend last 23 weeks in AP poll
Ohio State spent the final 10 weeks of the 1998-99 season and the first 13 weeks of 1999-00 ranked among the Top 25 teams nationally in the Associated Press Poll. The Buckeyes finished 1998-99 No. 14 in the AP and No. 4 in the ESPN/USA Today polls. OSU is currently 5th in the AP and 8th in the ESPN/USA Today polls (1/31/99). Ohio State opened the season No. 5 in the AP poll then moved to No. 4 the week of Nov. 15.
Buckeyes hit the boards early with Columbus connection
Ohio State is averaging 39.7 rebounds a contest, which is 5.9 more than opponents (33.8) after the first 17 games of the season. Junior Michael Redd leads the way with 6.7 rpg. Senior George Reese is next at 6.3 rpg. Both Redd and Reese hail from Columbus.
Centers click for Buckeyes
The OSU center position, made up of senior Ken Johnson and sophomore Will Dudley, has combined to shoot 74 of 114 (.673) from the field so far this season. Johnson is 54-93 (.581) and Dudley is 20-31 (.645) from the floor in 1999-00. Both, by the way, play the piano.
Iowa escapes with win at Wisconsin
For just the second time this season, the Wisconsin men’s basketball team lost at the Kohl Center, dropping a 61-55 decision to Iowa1 in front of a sellout crowd of 17,142. Mark Vershaw lad the Badgers with 18 points, 16 of those coming in the second half. Kirk Penney hit two free throws to put Wisconsin up 55-54 with 2:14 remaining but those would be the Badgers’ final points. After Iowa guard Dean Oliver was called for traveling, Oliver redeemed himself by picking Penney’s pocket and getting fouled. Oliver hit both free throws, putting Iowa ahead for good. Jacob Jaacks was fouled following a UW miss and made one free throw, giving the Badgers a chance to tie or go ahead. Penney got an open look along the left baseline but couldn’t knock down the shot. Jaacks then hit two free throws to ice the game for Iowa.
Buckeyes 17-6 when ranked vs. Wisconsin
Ohio State has taken an Associated Press Top 25 ranking into 23 games against Wisconsin since 1950. The Buckeyes have come away with a 17-6 record (.739) in those games. The last time Wisconsin defeated a ranked Ohio State team was in 1993 when the unranked Badgers won 76-67 over the No. 24 Buckeyes.
Badgers win 2 of last 3
Wisconsin opened the season with a 6-2 record before dropping back-to-back games to South Florida and Northern Illinois, both on the road. Since the loss to NIU, Wisconsin won three of its next four games before losing to the Buckeyes in Madison, 53-51 Jan. 13. Wisconsin then fell to Purdue (63-52) and Penn State (76-61) before defeating Minnesota (85-53) and Purdue (55-45) at home. Iowa then outlasted the Badgers in Madison last Saturday, 61-55.
Two Badgers pace offense
Mark Vershaw (6-9, Jr., F) is leading the Badger offense with 12.4 points a contest. He is followed by Andy Kowske (6-8, Jr., F) with 9.8 ppg. Kowske is the team’s leading rebounder at 6.0 rpg.
Bennett in 5th campaign at Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Dick Bennett has taken three of his four Wisconin teams to postseason play. Both his 1997 and ’99 squads played in the NCAA Tournament and his first UW team in 1996 advanced to the NIT second round. He has compiled a 79-63 record at Wisconsin after guiding UW-Green Bay to a 187-109 record from 1986-1995. Five of his last six UWGB teams played in postseason competition, three NCAA bids and a pair of NIT appearances. In 24 seasons as a head coach at the collegiate level, he has built a 440-252 record.
The Wisconsin Series
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Wisconsin 77-53 following a 53-51 win over the Badgers earlier this year in Madison. Wisconsin leads 36-30 in Madison while the Buckeyes hold a 47-17 edge in Columbus. Wisconsin’s last win in the series was a 64-59 win in Madison, Jan. 3, 1998.
OSU vs. the Big Ten
Ohio State played its 1,200th game against the current alignment of Big Ten teams against Indiana (Jan. 9, 1999). The Buckeyes earned their 600th win over current Big Ten opponents with a 70-62 win over Penn State in the earliest Big Ten game ever played Nov. 20, 1998 in Columbus.
Big Ten Series Records
Illinois 55-93
Indiana 65-92
Iowa 59-66
Michigan 77-67
Michigan State 44-50
Minnesota 68-50
Northwestern 96-44
Penn State 9-10
Purdue 67-77
Wisconsin 77-53
Totals 616-602
OSU 3-point field goal streak extended to 237
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 237 games. Scoonie Penn extended the streak early in the first half against Purdue. 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 228-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.
ONN to replay OSU men’s hoops
The Ohio News Network will replay eight Big Ten OSU men’s basketball games this season. Replays begin at 11 p.m. EST the night of the game on ONN. Remaining games are: Feb. 2 vs. Wisconsin, Feb. 9 vs. Iowa, Feb. 12 vs. Penn State, Feb. 19 at Indiana and Feb. 23 vs. Northwestern.
1999 Final Four banner unveiled
A banner celebrating the 1999 Final Four appearance by the Ohio State men’s basketball team was unveiled in a pregame ceremony Nov. 29 vs. Vermont. The banner will hang at Value City Arena throughout the 1999-00 season and then will be moved to the Ohio State practice facility. The banner was raised by 1998-99 captains Neshaun Coleman and Jason Singleton.
Lucas named to SI All-Century Team
Ohio State basketball legend Jerry Lucas (1960-62) was selected to the Sports Illustrated All-Century Team, one of only five players to be so honored. Lucas is joined on the team by Bill Bradley (Princeton, 1963-65), David Thompson (N.C. State, 1973-75), Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati 1958-60) and Lew Alcindor (UCLA, 1967-69). Lucas averaged 24.3 points a game in his OSU career and an astounding 17.2 rebounds a contest. He was a three-time All-America selection and the Big Ten’s only three-time player of the year. Lucas’ 1,411 career rebounds stands as the career record. His 17.2 average also is a career record. He averaged 17.8 rebounds as a senior, which stands as the OSU single season record.
Penn named 1st Team AP All-American
Senior guard Scoonie Penn was named to the Associated Press Preseason First Team All-America team. Penn joins Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State, Terence Morris, Maryland, Chris Porter, Auburn and Quentin Richardson, DePaul.
VCA sold out for 1999-00 Big Ten season
The entire 1999-00 home Big Ten men’s basketball season at Value City Arena is sold out. All 19,100 seats are sold this year, including 4,000 student season tickets. A total of 10,000 student season ticket applications were submitted for the 4,000 available seats. Split season tickets were distributed to 8,000 students who submitted applications this year. Last season 650 student season tickets were sold. The Buckeyes averaged 17,228 fans last season. Ohio State was 14-1 in its first season a VCA.
Buckeyes sign three for 2000-01
Jim O’Brien, Ohio State head men’s basketball coach, announced the signing of three highly recruited players to be added to the Buckeye program. Matt Marinchick (Hudson, Ohio), Velimir Radinovic (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and Zach Williams (Middle Village, N.Y.) all signed letters of intent Nov. 11.
Marinchick (Ma-RIN-chick), a 6-10 center from Hudson (Ohio) H.S. is ranked No. 20 nationally at his position by Athlons Sports. He led his high school team with 12.8 points per game as a junior.
Radinovic (VEL-ah-mere Ra-DIN-o-vich) is a 7-0 center/forward from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Last season, he averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds at T.A. Blakelock High School in Toronto.
Williams, a 6-6 power forward comes to Ohio State as the No. 4-ranked player in New York. Williams, of Christ the King High School, averaged 15 pts. and 8 rebs on his high school team that was ranked No. 3 in the nation last season
Penn, Redd earn preseason Big Ten recognition by both coaches and media
Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn was selected as the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by the league coaches during the conference-sponsored media day.
Michigan State senior Mateen Cleaves was selected by the Big Ten media as its preseason player of the year candidate. Ironically, the coaches tabbed Cleaves the Big Ten Player of the Year at the conclusion of last season while the media selected Penn. Penn along with OSU junior Michael Redd (Columbus, Ohio/West) were both selected as first team all-conference members by both the media and coaches.
The coaches also added Cleaves and Morris Peterson of Michigan State to the first team along with A.J. Guyton of Indiana. The media selected a similar first team but replaced Guyton with Cory Bradford of Illinois. League coaches picked Michigan State to win the conference this year followed by Ohio State, Illinois, Purdue and Indiana. The media picked MSU, Ohio State and Illinois as its top three.
Redd, Penn named OSU captains
Senior Scoonie Penn and junior Michael Redd were named team captains during preseason camp. It will be the second season Penn has served in that capacity at Ohio State. He along with seniors Neshaun Coleman and Jason Singleton served last season. Redd will be serving his first season as an OSU captain.
Penn, Redd listed on several preseason All-America lists
Buckeye senior Scoonie Penn is listed on several first team All-America teams. Some of the publications or preseason pollsters who have deemed Penn among the nation’s best include: Sport Magazine, Athlon Sports, Basketball Times, Street & Smith’s and Blue Ribbon. Lindy’s picks Penn and junior Michael Redd as First Team all-Big Ten Conference selections. Redd has been consistently deemed a second team nomination in most of the preseason publications.
