The #5 Buckeyes Travel To The #6 Spartans – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2000
No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (17-4, 8-2)
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.
No. 6 Michigan State Spartans
Probable Starters (18-6, 8-2)
G 12-Mateen Cleaves, 6-2, Sr.
G 14-Charlie Bell, 6-3, Jr.
C 34-Andre Hutson, 6-8, Jr.
F 42-Morris Peterson, 6-7, Sr.
F 43-A.J. Granger, 6-9, Sr.
OSU to honor Lucas, retire No. 11
The Ohio State Department of Athletics will officially retire the No. 11 in men’s basketball to honor three-time All-American Jerry Lucas (1960-62). The ceremony will take place at halftime of the Ohio State vs. Northwestern game Feb. 23 in Columbus. Lucas led the Buckeyes to the 1960 National Championship, the NCAA runner up in 1961 and 1962, three Big Ten titles and a 78-6 record during his career. A relentless rebounder, he owns the OSU career rebound record (1,411), single season (17.8 rpg.) and career (17.2 rpg.) records for rebound average.
Redd, Reese, Penn over 16 ppg. vs. MSU
Junior Michael Redd has averaged 19.0 ppg., in three career meetings with Michigan State. Seniors Scoonie Penn and George Reese each have averaged 16.5 ppg., in two previous meetings with the Spartans. Reese has led the Buckeyes with 6.0 rebounds vs. Michigan State.
Robinson comes off bench to spark OSU
Doylan Robinson was an unlikely hero for Ohio State. After playing only 21 minutes in the previous 12 games, Robinson came off the end of the bench to play solid defense and score a career-high 10 points as Ohio State beat Penn State 88-75. Four Buckeyes scored more points, but it was Robinson’s play that received the most praise after the game. Redd, who scored 25 points, is accustomed to torturing Penn State, having averaged 26.8 points in his four previous games against the Nittany Lions. He had not shot better than 50 percent in nine of his previous 10 games, but made 9-of-17 shots and 7-of-10 free throws to match his season scoring high. Yet Robinson, who led the Buckeyes with eight rebounds, still commanded a lot of attention. His play couldn’t have come at a better time for the Buckeyes who assured themselves of having at least a share of first place in the conference going into their showdown at No. 6 Michigan State Wednesday. Joe Crispin, who matched teammate Jarrett Stephens with 25 points, had 13 at halftime as the Nittany Lions held a 35-33 lead after leading by as many as seven points before Robinson started guarding Crispin. Crispin wasn’t a factor in the second half with the taller Robinson applying the pressure on defense. Ohio State’s offense perked up after an abysmal performance in the 67-64 upset loss at home to Iowa. The Buckeyes shot 61 percent in the second half — hitting 10 of their final 11 shots — and finished at 56 percent, their best shooting performance in almost two months. They pulled away to lead by as many as 16. Another substitute, sixth-man George Reese, scored 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 from the line. Ken Johnson added 11 points and eight blocked shots. Noting the win over Penn State
– Ohio State improves to 17-4 overall and 8-2 in Big Ten play with the win, while Penn State falls to 12-9, 4-6 in Big Ten play with the defeat. Ohio State is now 27-3 all-time in Value City Arena.
– Ohio State has connected on at least one three-point field goal attempt in each of the last 241 games. Doylan Robinson extended the streak with a 3-pointer midway through the first half. The trey was just the second in Robinson’s career.
– Robinson set a career high with 10 points. His previous high was seven points, set earlier this season vs. Florida A&M (12/11/99). Robinson also earned a career-high 26 minutes, topping his career-best 19-minute contest vs. Florida A&M. Robinson grabbed a team- and game-high eight rebounds, falling one short of his career high.
– Ken Johnson blocked eight shots in the game, marking the eighth time in 10 Big Ten games this year that he has blocked at least five shots in a game. Johnson has blocked at least three shots in every Big Ten game this season. Johnson’s eight blocks are the fifth-most in Ohio State history.
– Johnson, leading the nation in blocked shots, now has 122 (5.8) blocked shots this season as he continues to add to his OSU single-season blocked shot record. Johnson, sixth on the all-time Big Ten chart and second on the OSU chart, now has 280 blocks in his career. He stands 27 rejections behind fifth-place Brad Sellers on the Big Ten chart and 48 behind Herb Williams on the OSU list.
– OSU recorded nine blocked shots in the contest, while Penn State failed to block a shot, marking the ninth time this season an OSU opponent has blocked fewer than two shots in a game. OSU is 9-0 in those contests.
– Ohio State scored a season-high 55 points in the second half. The Buckeyes’ previous high for points in a half was 54, set in the first half of the Florida A&M contest (12/11/99). OSU’s previous high for points in the second half was 45, set vs. Duquesne and Florida A&M.
– Michael Redd (25) and Scoonie Penn (17) combined for 42 points in the contest, marking the 16th time over the past two seasons the two have combined for 40 or more points. Ohio State is 13-3 in those contests.
– Redd tied his season high with 25 points. He also scored 25 vs. Minnesota (1/9/00) and Michigan (2/6/00). Redd, seventh on the all-time OSU scoring chart, now has 1,695 career points, 61 behind sixth-place Jay Burson (1,756).
– After struggling from the free throw line on Wednesday night, the Buckeyes rebounded with a 24-of-29 performance (82.8%). The performance is OSU’s third-best from the line this season.
– Ohio State shot 55.6 percent from the field, marking the Buckeyes’ second-best shooting performance of the season. OSU shot a season-high 56.9 percent from the field earlier this season vs. Oakland (12/27/99).
– Ohio State’s 88-point performance tied its high in Big Ten play this season. The Buckeyes also tallied 88 at Michigan last weekend.
O’Brien guides 10th team to 17+ wins
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien has led his 10th team to the 17 win-plateau with the victory over Penn State (2/12) giving the Buckeyes a 17-4 record this year. In nine previous seasons when an O’Brien-coached team reached 17 wins, the squad advanced to postseason play eight times, including the Final Four last year when OSU was 27-9 overall. The only season one of his teams did not go to the postseason with 17+ wins was his second campaign at St. Bonaventure when his 18-13 squad of 1983-84 did not advance. O’Brien has taken four teams to the NCAA Tournament and four to the NIT.
Buckeyes take care of the ball
Ohio State averages just 12.6 turnovers a game this season while opponents are giving it up 15.6 times contest. Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn is averaging just 1.95 turnovers a game in 34.1 minutes of playing time a contest, or just one turnover for every 17.5 minutes played. Sophomore Brian Brown averages just 1.6 turnovers a game in 28.6 minutes per game or one TO every 18.2 minutes.
Penn edges closer to 3-point record
Neshaun Coleman, a captain last season, set the all-time record for 3-pointers made in a career with 147 during OSU’s run through the Final Four last year. Scoonie Penn could break that mark in just two seasons in Columbus with 15 more this season. He has a career total of 133, which includes his OSU single-season record of 88 made last year. His 45 made this year ranks ninth behind the 46 made by Michael Redd in each of the last two seasons.
Penn nears Top 10 in assists
With 16 more assists this season, senior Scoonie Penn will move into the Top 10 in career assists at Ohio State. He will be added to this list in just two seasons. Penn dished out 154 assists as a junior and has 88 this season. Dennis Hopson (1984-87) currently holds the No. 10 spot with 258 career assists.
Redd to enter Top 10 list for career starts
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd will start his 88th career game against Michigan State. Redd, in less than three full seasons, will tie Carter Scott (1978-81) for the No. 10 spot against the Spartans. Redd has started every game of his OSU career.
Three of four OSU losses come in final three seconds
Ohio State (17-4) has lost three games this season on opponent shots that fell in the final three seconds of the game. The first was in the season opener vs. Notre Dame when the Buckeyes battled from a four-point deficit with 54 seconds to play to tie the game at 57 with 18 seconds left. The Irish’s David Graves then hit an off-balance shot from the left side at the buzzer for a 59-57 UND victory. Ohio State then battled from 10 down with 5:47 left to tie the score at 77 vs. Illinois with five seconds to play on a Brian Brown tip-in. Illinois’ Frank Williams then launched a straight-on 3-pointer that fell at the buzzer to give the Illini an 80-77 victory. Iowa won with three seconds to play on a Kyle Galloway 3-pointer from the left corner after OSU came back from 10 down to tie the game at 64 with seven seconds to play. OSU did come out on top at St. John’s this season after battling from 10 down with 2:49 to play to take a 65-64 lead with 23 seconds left on a pair of Scoonie Penn free throws. Penn then blocked a 3-point attempt by SJU’s Erick Barkley to preserve the win.
2-year home record rates high in OSU history
Ohio State has compiled a 27-3 (.900) 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 a 13-2 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 27-3 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 27-3 .900 1985-86 26-5 .839 1982-83 25-5 .833 1986-87 26-7 .788 1985-86 26-5 .781
Redd closing on Burson for No. 6 spot in OSU career scoring
Michael Redd is in 7th place all-time at OSU in scoring with 1,695 career points after a 25 point effort against Penn State (2/12/00). Redd trails No. 6 Jay Burson (1986-89) by 61 points. Burson ended his OSU career with 1,756 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 (1/20/00). 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 record when ranked in Top 10
No. 5 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 190-49 (.795) 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.
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. 6 MSU and No. 10 Indiana this week. 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. Redd is the current leader at 15.9 ppg. Penn is currently second with 15.7 points per game. Redd has scored 334 points followed by Penn with 329.
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.
Johnson records 200th career block, now 6th on Big Ten list
Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 280 blocks in his career after swatting eight against Penn State (2/12). Johnson is just the second Buckeye and the 12th Big Ten player to reach 200 career blocks. Johnson is currently sixth in Big Ten history with 280 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. Johnson will become just the sixth Big Ten player to record 300 blocks with 20 more this season.
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- 272 7. 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 nation, 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 5.81 shots per game with 122 blocks on the year. As a team, the Buckeyes are first among Big Ten teams in field goal percentage defense (.365) and blocked shots (7.2). The Buckeyes are second in scoring defense (59.3) and turnover margin (+3.15).
Penn passes BC total in games played at OSU
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 57 starts over the last two seasons.
Redd begins another double-figure scoring streak
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd has appeared in 87 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 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 12 games.
Johnson likely has made final move on OSU career swat chart but…
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 (280) at Ohio State in career blocks. Johnson trails the 328 recorded blocks by Buckeye great Herb Williams (1978-81) by 48. Johnson averaged 1.9 bpg (58/30 gms.) as a sophomore, 2.8 bpg. (100/36 gms.) as a junior and 5.80 bpg. (122/21 gms.) so far this season. If he keeps up his current pace he could still reach Williams’ record. Ohio State has at least seven games remaining (six regular season, one in the Big Ten Tournament). Johnson could reach the record on his current pace in nine games.
Redd, Penn working on 1,700 career points
The Ohio State guard tandem of senior Scoonie Penn and junior Michael Redd are nearing 1,700 career points. Redd has 1,695 career points, good for sixth on the OSU career list. Penn, who spent two seasons at Boston College, has scored 1,675 career points. Penn tallied 737 while at BC and has 948 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 52 more this season. Penn scored 609 as an OSU junior and has 329 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 12 games this season and has a 11-1 record in those games…Ohio State has held 13 of 21 opponents under 65 points this season and has an 12-1 record in those games…Ohio State has blocked at least one opponent shot in the last 58 games (0 vs. Penn State, 2/28/98)-Ken Johnson has started the last 57 games…an OSU player has scored in double figures 77 times this season…Michael Redd has 20, Scoonie Penn 19 and George Reese 13…four different players have reached the 20-point plateau with Redd leading the way with four, Penn and Reese have three 20+ games each…six times a player has reached double digits in rebounding led by Ken Johnson with four followed by Redd with two…Ohio State has outscored opponents by an average of 5.9 points at the half…the Buckeyes are 11-1 when leading at the half and have come back to win six of nine games when trailing at the break…when the OSU bench outscores the opponent bench, the Buckeyes are 14-2 but are still 3-2 when the opposing bench holds the advantage…the Buckeyes are 7-3 in games decided by 10 points or less and 10-1 in games decided by 11 or more points.
Numerically noting the Buckeyes
– Scoonie Penn: Penn reached 100 career starts vs. Toledo (12/22)…he has 57 at Ohio State…Penn has played 30 or more minutes in 18 games this season, including the last 11 and all 40 at Kansas (12/16)…Penn had a streak of 19-consecutive contests with at least one steal halted vs. Penn State (2/12)…he has 201 thefts in his career, 113 at Ohio State…a small but mighty rebounder, Penn is averaging 4.5 boards a contest this year…he has 419 career rebounds (3.7 rpg.)…he has connected on 83 percent of his free throws in the last seven games (33-40).
– Michael Redd: Redd has started all 87 games in his career…he claimed 7th on the OSU career scoring list with 14 points vs. Wisconsin (2/2)…Redd has 1,695 career points…Redd is 52 of 65 (.800) from the foul line this year…he is a career 64 percent free throw shooter (317-496)…Redd has connected on at least one 3-pointer in 16 of 21 games this season…Redd needs four free throw attempts to reach 500 for his career…he has 530 career rebounds for an average of 6.1 rpg…He is connecting on 41.7 percent of his shots this season (130-312) but has hit for 48 percent in the last three games (23-48, .479).
– Ken Johnson: Johnson has started the last 57 games at center…Johnson has 280 career blocks and is averaging 5.8 bpg. (122) this season…he set a single game school record with 11 blocks at St. John’s (1/22) and tied it vs. Iowa (2/9)…he set the single season record for blocks with 100 as a junior and broke that this season with 122 so far…Johnson has 25 career games with five or more blocks, he had three as a freshman, seven last year and 15 this season in 21 games…Johnson is a career 52 percent shooter from the field (244-471) and is connecting on 55 percent this season (67-121).
– Brian Brown: Brown has doubled his offensive output this season with an average of 9.3 points a game…he averaged 4.1 as a freshman…he also is shooting 34 percent better from the foul line…Brown shot just 51.9 percent as a freshman (27-52) from the free-throw line…this season, Brown has connected on 41-48 (.854)…he has made 71 of 132 field goal attempts (.538) this season after shooting 39 percent as a freshman…Brown has scored in double figures in 10 games this season after reaching 10 points just twice as a freshman…OSU is 9-3 when Brown reaches double figures
– Cobe Ocokoljic: Ocokoljic cracked the starting lineup vs. Oakland (12/27)…he has played double-figure minutes in 12 of 21 games and eight of the last 15, including a career-high 32 minutes vs. American (12/29).
– George Reese: Reese has doubled his offensive output from a year ago…he averaged 5.5 points last season and is third on the team this year at 12.1 ppg…he connected on 42 percent of his shots as a junior (73-174) but has upped that percentage to 52 percent this year (101-195)…he scored 18-second half points on his way to 24 vs. Illinois (1/6/00) and had 19 points in the win over No. 10 Michigan State (1/20/00)…he established a career-high with 25 points in the win at Michigan (2/6).
– Boban Savovic: Savovic has been bothered most of the season with ankle injuries…he has appeared in just 10 games this season and has connected on 9 of 24 shots from the field…he suffered a lower left leg bruise in the win over Purdue (1/29) and missed the last four games with that injury.
– Brent Darby: Darby made a huge 3-pointer with 7:02 remaining in the second half vs. Wisconsin (1/13) and did so again in the second half vs. the Badgers in Columbus…he has made nearly 50 percent of his 3-pointers this season (9-19)…nine of his 16 field goals this season have been 3-pointers…in his first game in the state of Michigan (he is a River Rouge, Mich., native) he scored six points with no turnovers in 20 minutes against the Wolverines (2/6).
– Will Dudley: Dudley is a career 65 percent shooter from the field…he has connected on 35-54 shots from the field in 34 career games…he has made 21-33 (.636) shots this season.
Blocks spark OSU defense
Ohio State, led by senior center Ken Johnson’s 122 blocks, has rejected 151 shots this season while foes have just 54.
Buckeyes spend last 25 weeks in AP poll
Ohio State spent the final 10 weeks of the 1998-99 season and the first 15 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 6th in the ESPN/USA Today polls (2/7/00). Ohio State opened the season No. 5 in the AP poll then moved to No. 4 the week of Nov. 15.
Spartans go boarding in win over Badgers
A focus on the boards helped Michigan State rebound from its loss to Purdue. Morris Peterson had 18 points and 10 rebounds as the No. 6 Spartans kept a share of the Big Ten lead with a 61-44 victory over Wisconsin. After the Boilermakers surprised Michigan State 70-67 Tuesday, the Spartans came back with dominant performances in rebounding and on defense. Michigan State averages an NCAA-best 13.6 more rebounds than its opponents, and the Spartans’ 50-23 rebounding advantage was the difference against Wisconsin. Michigan State never trailed and wasn’t threatened by the Badgers, who lost for the third time in four games. Wisconsin admitted to being slightly in awe of the Spartans, who they’ll visit for a rematch next Saturday. Michigan State exacted revenge for its 66-51 loss at Wisconsin last season, the Spartans’ only conference defeat in the 1998-99 campaign.
Buckeyes 16-9 when ranked vs. Mich. St.
Ohio State has taken an Associated Press Top 25 ranking into 25 games against Michigan State since 1950. The Buckeyes have come away with a 16-9 record (.640) in those games. The last time Michigan State defeated a ranked Ohio State team was in 1999 when the No. 8 Spartans won 76-71 over the No. 15 Buckeyes in East Lansing. Ohio State is just 4-11 vs. ranked MSU squads. The last Buckeye win over a ranked Spartan team was Jan. 20, 2000 when the No. 13 Buckeyes prevailed 78-67 over the No. 10 Spartans.
Spartans winners of 6 of last 7
Michigan State enters the game with Ohio State with an 18-6 record. The Spartans have been winners in six of the last seven games after losing to the Buckeyes in Columbus. Included in the most recent stretch of MSU wins was an impressive 85-66 home win over Connecticut.
Peterson leads MSU Offense
Morris Peterson (6-6, Sr., F, Flint, Mich.) has been the offensive leader for the Spartans this season. He has averaged 16.8 points this season and over 18 ppg. in Big Ten Conference play. Charlie Bell (6-3, Jr., G, Flint, Mich.), who filled in for the injured Mateen Cleaves for most of the early part of the season, is second in scoring at 11.5 ppg. Andre Hutson (6-8, Jr., F, Trotwood, Ohio) is the team’s leading rebounder with 6.8 rpg.
Izzo in Fifth season at MSU
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is in his fifth season at the help of the Spartans. He has compiled a record of 106-47 during his tenure, which includes an 18-6 mark this season.
The Michigan State series
Michigan State leads the all-time series over Ohio State 50-44. The Buckeyes are 31-17 in games played in Columbus and 13-33 in East Lansing. The Buckeyes have not defeated the Spartans in East Lansing since Feb. 29, 1992 (78-65). Michigan State had a 10-game winning streak snapped earlier this season in Columbus.
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 59-67
Michigan 78-67
Michigan State 44-50
Minnesota 68-50
Northwestern 96-44
Penn State 10-10
Purdue 67-77
Wisconsin 78-53
Totals 619-603
OSU 3-point field goal streak extended to 241
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 241 games. Doylan Robinson extended the streak midway through the first half against Penn State. 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 231-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.
Redd, Reese post 1st 50-point combo since 1995
Columbus natives George Reese and Michael Redd combined to score 50 points in the win over Michigan (2/6) with 25 points apiece. The last time a pair of Buckeyes combined for 50 or more points was Jan. 8, 1995 when Doug Etzler (37) and Rick Yudt (26) scored 63 in a 121-96 win over George Mason in St. John Arena. Etzler connected on 12 of 15 shots from the field, 8 of 11 3-pointers and 5 of 6 free throws. Yudt was 10 of 19, 2-8 and 4-4. Reese and Redd managed to score 50 on the road. The last time that happened was Feb. 2, 1994 at Indiana when Lawrence Funderburke (26) and Jamie Skelton (24) reached 50 in an 87-83 loss to the Hoosiers in overtime. Indiana’s Alan Henderson (29) and Pat Graham (22) combined for 51 in the win.
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. 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. 1998-99 captains Neshaun Coleman and Jason Singleton raised the banner.
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.
