Buckeyes Prepare For Big Ten Tourney – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 7, 2000
The Buckeyes vs. Penn State
Ohio State earned the No. 1 seed in the 2000 Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes will face the No. 9 seed, Penn State, at 2 p.m. Friday, March 10.
The Big Ten Tournament
This will be the third year of the Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes have an overall record of 1-2 at the event. The Buckeyes fell to Indiana 78-71 in 1998. OSU then advanced to the semifinals last year with a win over Michigan (87-69) before being eliminated by Illinois (79-77).
Tournament Tested
The current roster of Buckeye players have been through the tournament wars the last two years. OSU won the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic, advanced to the seminfinals of the Big Ten Tournament and to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament last year.
OSU’s 2000 Big Ten Honors
Coaches’s Selections
First Team All-Big Ten
Scoonie Penn, 5-10, Sr., G
Michael Redd, 6-6, Jr., G
Second Team All-Big Ten
Ken Johnson, 6-11, Sr., C
Third Team All-Big Ten
George Reese, 6-7, Sr., F
Defensive Player of the Year
Ken Johnson
151 blocks, Big Ten and OSU record
11 blocks vs. St. John and Iowa, OSU single game record
Media Selections
First Team All-Big Ten
Scoonie Penn, 5-10, Sr., G
Second Team All-Big Ten
Michael Redd, 6-6, Jr., G
Third Team All-Big Ten
Ken Johnson, 6-11, Sr., C
George Reese, 6-7, Sr., F
2000 Postseason
No. 1 Ohio State (22-5), (13-3)
vs.
The Winner of Game 1
Thursday, March 9
No. 8 Michigan (15-12, 6-10)
or
No. 9 Penn State (13-14, 5-11)
GAME FACTS
Ohio State played Michigan just once during the regular season. The teams battled in Ann Arbor. The No. 5-ranked Buckeyes played one of their better games of the season, defeating the Wolverines 88-67, Feb. 6.
Penn State is 0-2 vs. the Buckeyes this season. The No. 5 Buckeyes defeated the Nittany Lions 88-75 Feb. 12 in Columbus. Ohio State recently traveled to State College, Pa., and came away with a 79-73 victory over the Nittany Lions. The most recent win give the Buckeyes an 11-10 advantage in the all-time series while breaking a five-game losing streak to PSU in State College.
ADVANCING
A win in the quarterfinals will put the Buckeyes in a semifinal contest with either Illinois (No. 4) or Indiana (No. 5). The Illini and Hoosiers meet at 11 a.m. CST Friday. The semifinal game is set for 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday on CBS.
The Broadcasts March 10, 2000 Opponent: Michigan/Penn State Site: United Center (21,711) Game Time: 2 p.m. (CST) National TV: espn2 TV Talent: Dave Barnett (P-by-P) Quinn Buckner (Color) Radio: OSU Radio Network (62 stations) Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460 Radio Talent: Paul Keels (P-by-P) Ron Stokes (Color)
No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (22-5, 13-3)
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 40-George Reese, 6-7, Sr.
Michigan Wolverines
Probable Starters (15-12, 6-10)
G Kevin Gaines, 6-4, Fr.
G Leon Jones, 6-4, So.
C Josh Asselin, 6-11, Jr.
F Brandon Smith, 6-7, Jr.
F LaVell Blanchard, 6-7, Fr.
–OR–
Penn State Nittany Lions
Probable Starters (13-14, 5-11)
G 33-Titus Ivory, 6-4, Jr.
G 3-Joe Crispin, 6-1, Jr.
C 54-Carl Jackson, 6-9, Sr.
F 35-Tyler Smith, 6-8, So.
F 31-Jarrett Stphens, 6-7, Sr.
Reese Powers Buckeyes past Minnesota to earn title
After a grueling final six games, Ohio State is perfectly happy to share the Big Ten basketball title with Michigan State. George Reese matched his career high with 25 points and Michael Redd scored 17 as the Buckeyes won their fifth straight game to win a share of the league title with Michigan State. The Buckeyes have won 10 outright Big Ten titles, the last in 1992, and have shared six. Ohio State lost at Michigan State 83-72 on Feb. 15, but then reeled off five straight victories, including road defeats of Indiana and Penn State. The loss was the sixth straight for Minnesota and was its second in three days to a top 10 team. Scoonie Penn added 11 points for Ohio State, including a 3-pointer early in the first half that gave him 144 for his career, three shy of Neshaun Coleman’s record. Shane Schilling led Minnesota with 16 points and Terrance Simmons had 15. The Gophers gave Ohio State all it could handle in the early going, tying the game 21-21 at 9:35 on Kyle Sanden’s 3-point basket and trailing just 31-28 with five minutes to play. The Buckeyes scored 11 of the final 13 points in the half, six by Reese, to lead 42-31. Mitch Ohnstad and Simmons hit back-to-back 3-pointers in a 14-3 run early in the second half as Minnesota closed to 48-45. Redd then scored five straight points in an 18-2 run that gave the Buckeyes a 66-47 cushion.
Noting the win over Minnesota
– Ohio State shot .571 (28-49) from the field marking the second time this season the Buckeyes have reached .500 or better on the road. OSU is 7-0 this season when shooting .500 or better. OSU connected on .517 (31-60) percent of its shots in the game at Penn State March 1 in a 79-73 win over the Nittany Lions.
– With the win over Minnesota in Minneapolis, the Buckeyes won its final two Big Ten road games for the first time since 1992 when the Buckeyes downed Michigan State (2/29/92) and Minnesota (3/14/92). The last time Ohio State finished the Big Ten season with consecutive road wins was in 1946 when OSU won at Chicago (2/22/46) 53-31 and at Northwestern (2/23/46) 53-46. OSU won the Big Ten title that season and advanced to the Final Four. It also was the last year for Chicago in the Big Ten.
– The win over the Golden Gophers broke a five-game losing streak to Minnesota in Minneapolis. The last OSU win at Minnesota was a 94-63 victory in 1992. OSU snapped a five game losing streak to Penn State in State College last week as well.
– Ohio State won for the sixth time this season on the road in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes defeated Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan, Indiana, Penn State and Minnesota away from Columbus this season. OSU was 5-3 on the road in the Big Ten last season. The Buckeyes were 7-2 on the road in league play in 1992.
– Senior center Ken Johnson block eight shots at Minnesota to give him 151 on the season. He holds the Big Ten record for blocks in a single season with that total. Johnson has 309 rejections in his career. He is only the sixth Big Ten player in history to block 300 or more and just the second Buckeye (Herb Williams, 328). Johnson passed Brad Sellers (307) to take over fifth place in Big Ten history.
– Redd moved closer to fourth place on the all-time OSU scoring list with 1,826 points. Redd, currently fifth, has his sights on No. 4 Kelvin Ramsey, who scored 1,934 career points.
– Ohio State has now connected on at least one three-point goal in 247-consecutive games. Scoonie Penn extended the streak with a 3-pointer early in the first half.
– Scoonie Penn is now in 35th place in career scoring at Ohio State with 1,026 points. Penn now has 1,763 total points in his career at Boston College (737) and Ohio State.
– George Reese tied his career high with 25 points vs. the Gophers. He connected on 10 of 12 shots to take the lead in field goal percentage in Big Ten play (.535).
– George Reese scored in double figures (25 vs. Minnesota) for the 19th time this season. OSU owns a 16-3 record in those contests. Reese has reached double digits in each of the last nine games.
– Ken Johnson needs 20 blocks to claim the career lead at Ohio State. Johnson has 309. He is second to the 328 rejected by Herb Williams (1972-81). Johnson has six games this season with eight or more blocks. All six rank among the Top 10 single game efforts at Ohio State.
– Ohio State senior Scoonie Penn is now tied for second in career 3-pointers made with 144, just three behind Neshaun Coleman (147), who set the record last year. Penn also is second in career 3-pointers attempted in a season with 178. He set the record last season with 229 long range attempts.
– Junior Michael Redd is tied for ninth in career thefts after recording a pair against Minnesota. Redd has 141 in his three seasons as a Buckeye.
Reese earns league honor
Senior George Reese was awarded the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week after leading the Buckeyes to a pair of road wins over Penn State and Minnesota to help OSU to a share of the 2000 Big Ten Title. Reese averaged 20.5 points and shot 64 percent from the field. He tied a career high with 25 points at Minnesota on 10 of 12 shooting from the field.
OSU closes with five-consecutive wins to end regular season
The Buckeyes ended the regular season with its fifth-consecutive win at Minnesota. Ohio State has not closed in such fashion since the 1992 season when the Buckeyes finished the regular season 6-0 before winning the first three games in the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes then fell to Michigan 75-71 in the Midwest Regional Finals. The Buckeyes traveled to four of their final six games and won its final three battles on the road.
Buckeyes 3-2 vs. RPI Top 25
Ohio State has played 12 games against opponents ranked among the Top 64 teams in the latest Rating Percentage Index (March 4), used to selected the field of 64 in the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State, No. 23 in the RPI, is 3-2 against teams in the Top 25. Ohio State is 1-0 vs. St. John’s (5), 1-0 vs. Indiana (13), 0-1 vs. Kansas (16), , 1-1 vs. Michigan State (19), 1-1 vs. Illinois (27), 1-0 vs. Purdue (28), 2-0 vs. Wisconsin (36), 0-1 vs. Iowa (56), and 0-1 vs. Notre Dame (57).
OSU No. 14 in Sagarin Ratings
Ohio State has climbed to No. 14 in the Sagarin Ratings as of March 4. The Buckeyes have a 9-4 record vs. the Sagarin, another tool for NCAA Tournament selection, Top 64 and a 5-3 rank vs. the Top 25. OSU has played Michigan State (4), Indiana (8), Illinois (19), Kansas (20), Purdue (22), St. John’s (24), Wisconsin (26), Iowa (58) and Penn State (2-0, 64) in the Sagarin Top 64.
Penn joins OSU 1,000-point club
In just his second season in Columbus, Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn reached the 1,000-point club at Ohio State. Penn is the 38th player in OSU history to reach 1,000 career points. Penn scored 609 as an OSU junior and has 417 this year. Penn became 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. Penn also became just the seventh Buckeye to reach 1,000 points in his first two seasons at Ohio State.
Player (yrs. lettered) 1st 2 yrs. at OSU Jerry Lucas (1960-62) 1,381 (1960-61) Michael Redd (1998-) 1,361 (1998-99) Brad Sellers (1985-86) 1,122 (1985-86) Herb Williams (1978-81) 1,069 (1978-79) Jim Jackson (1990-92) 1,067 (1990-91) Dave Sorenson (1968-70) 1,041 (1968-69) Scoonie Penn (1999-00) 1,026 (1999-00)
OSU reaches consecutive 20-win seasons
Jim O’Brien has guided the Buckeyes to a 13-3 record in the Big Ten and a 22-5 overall record after completing the conference schedule with a 12-4 record and an overall mark of 27-9 last year. The Buckeyes tied for the Big Ten Title with its recent win at Minnesota. OSU finished second in the league a year ago. The Buckeyes have posted back-to-back 10+ win seasons in the Big Ten for the first time since 1991, 1992. OSU was 15-3 in both seasons tying for the Big Ten Title in 1991 and earning it outright in 1992. The win over Illinois (2/27) gave the Buckeyes back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1990-91 when OSU won 27 and 26 games, respectively.
Johnson reaches 300 career blocks, 6th on Big Ten list
Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 309 blocks in his career after swatting eight at Minnesota (3/4). Johnson is just the second Buckeye and the sixth Big Ten player to reach 300 career blocks. Johnson is currently fifth in Big Ten history with 309 rejections. Herb Williams (1977-81) leads OSU and is fourth all-time among Big Ten players with 328 rejections.
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. Herb Williams, OSU 1977-81 328 5. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998- 309 6. Brad Sellers, WIS-OSU 1981-86 307 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
Big Ten Season Blocked Shot leaders 1. Ken Johnson, OSU 1999-00 151 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, 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 5.59 shots per game with 151 blocks on the year. Johnson has the fifth highest block per game average in NCAA history as of March 5. As a team, the Buckeyes are first among Big Ten teams and No. 4 nationally in field goal percentage defense (.368) and blocked shots (6.89). OSU is third in the Big Ten, No. 12 nationally, in scoring defense (60.9 ppg) and scoring margin (11.9), No. 18 nationally.
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 5.59 6.#Keith Closs, C. Conn. St. 1995 5.35 7.#Shaquille O’Neal, LSU 1992 5.23 8.#Shawn Bradley, BYU 1991 5.21 9.Theo Ratliff, Wyoming 1995 5.14 # Led nation in blocks.
Johnson is current national leader with 151.
Redd leads Buckeyes vs. both Michigan and Penn State
Junior Michael Redd is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Buckeyes against both Penn State (25.6 ppg./7.0 rpg.) and Michigan (19.3 ppg/6.0 rpg.). Senior Scoonie Penn averages 16.3 ppg vs. Michigan and 10.3 ppg vs. Penn State. Senior George Reese averages 12.5 ppg. vs. PSU and 9.8 ppg. vs. Michigan.
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 and with the victory over Illinois (2/27) the Buckeyes are 22-5 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. O’Brien has coached four previous teams to 20 or more wins. Three have advanced to the NCAA Tournament. His first team at St. Bonaventure (20-10, 1982-83) played in the NIT. The last two seasons at Ohio State mark the first time he has coached back-to-back teams to 20+ win seasons.
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 four more this season. He has a career total of 144, which includes his OSU single-season record of 88 made last year. His 56 made this year ranks fifth.
Penn reaches Top 10 in assists
With three assists against Illinois (2/27), Scoonie Penn claimed the No. 10 spot in career assists at Ohio State. He has done so in just two seasons. Penn dished out 154 assists as a junior and has 118 this season for a career total of 272 assists.
Redd enters Top 10 list for career starts
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd started his 93rd career game against Minnesota (3/4). Redd, in less than three full seasons, is 10th all-time in career starts. Redd has started every game of his OSU career.
Three of five OSU losses come in final three seconds
Ohio State (22-5) 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 ND victory. OSU 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. UI’s 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 at OSU
Ohio State has compiled a 29-3 (.906) 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 15-2 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 29-3 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 29-3 .906 1985-86 26-5 .839 1982-83 25-5 .833 1986-87 26-7 .788 1985-86 26-5 .781
Redd catches Jackson for No. 5 spot in OSU career scoring
Michael Redd is in fifth place all-time at OSU in scoring with 1,826 career points after a 22-point effort at Penn State (3/1/00). Redd trails No. 4 Kelvin Ransey (1977-80) by 108 points. Ransey ended his OSU career with 1,934 points.
OSU vs. the Top 10
Ohio State played its fourth Top 10 team of the season against the No. 10 Hoosiers of Indiana (2/19/00). The Buckeyes lost 80-67 earlier this season to No. 8 Kansas in Lawrence but ended then-No. 10 MSU’s 21-game Big Ten winning streak with a 78-67 victory Jan. 20 in Columbus. Michigan State avenged its loss in Columbus with an 83-72 win over the Buckeyes (2/16). The Buckeyes then downed No. 10 Indiana on the road 82-71 (2/19). All-Time, Ohio State has a 50-100 record against teams ranked in the AP Top 10.
OSU record when ranked in Top 10
No. 6 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 195-50 (.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 52-37 record all-time. OSU has taken an Associated Press ranking into games against ranked foes six times this season.
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 17.2 ppg. Penn is currently second with 15.4 points per game. Redd has scored 465 points followed by Penn with 417. Redd is just the 12th Buckeye to record 400 or more points in a season three times
Penn among 22 finalists for Wooden Award
Ohio State senior guard Scoonie Penn is listed among the 22 finalists for the 2000 John R. Wooden Award as college basketball player of the year. The 10 finalists will be announced March 28.
Redd begins another double-figure scoring streak
Ohio State junior guard Michael Redd has appeared in 93 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 18 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 (301) at Ohio State in career blocks. Johnson trails the 328 recorded blocks by Buckeye great Herb Williams (1978-81) by 27. Johnson averaged 1.9 bpg (58/30 gms.) as a sophomore, 2.8 bpg. (100/36 gms.) as a junior and 5.50 bpg. (143/26 gms.) so far this season. If he keeps up his current pace he could still reach Williams’ record. Ohio State has at least three games remaining (one regular season, one in the Big Ten Tournament, one in the NCAA Tournament). Johnson could reach the record on his current pace in five games.
Redd, Penn eclipse 1,700 career points
The Ohio State guard tandem of senior Scoonie Penn and junior Michael Redd reached 1,700 career points against Michigan State. Redd has 1,826 career points, good for fifth on the OSU career list. Penn, who spent two seasons at Boston College, has scored 1,763 career points. Penn tallied 737 while at BC and has 1,026 at Ohio State.
Team Notes
Ohio State has scored 70 or more points in 16 games this season and has an 14-2 record in those games…Ohio State has held 16 of 27 opponents under 65 points this season and has an 15-1 record in those games…Ohio State has blocked at least one opponent shot in the last 64 games (0 vs. Penn State, 2/28/98)-Ken Johnson has started the last 63 games…an OSU player has scored in double figures 100 times this season…Michael Redd has 26, Scoonie Penn 24 and George Reese 19…four different players have reached the 20-point plateau with Redd leading the way with eight followed by Penn and Reese with four each…Penn is the only Buckeye with a 30-point game this season, he did so against Michigan State (30 pts.) Feb. 16…10 times a player has reached double digits in rebounding led by Ken Johnson with five followed by Redd with four…the Buckeyes are 15-1 when leading at the half and have come back to win seven of 11 games when trailing at the break…when the OSU bench outscores the opponent bench, the Buckeyes are 14-2 but are still 8-3 when the opposing bench holds the advantage…the Buckeyes are 9-3 in games decided by 10 points or less and 13-2 in games decided by 11 or more points.
Blocks spark OSU defense
Ohio State, led by senior center Ken Johnson’s 143 blocks, has rejected 177 shots this season while foes have just 71.
Buckeyes spend last 28 weeks in AP poll
Ohio State spent the final 10 weeks of the 1998-99 season and the first 18 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 4th in the AP and 5th in the ESPN/USA Today polls (3/6/00). Ohio State opened the season No. 5 in the AP poll then moved to No. 4 the week of Nov. 15.
Buckeyes 24-4 when ranked vs. Michigan
Ohio State has taken an Associated Press Top 25 ranking into 28 games against Michigan since 1949. The Buckeyes have come away with a 24-4 record (.857) in those games. The last time Michigan defeated a ranked Ohio State team was in 1992 when the 15th ranked Wolverines won 75-71 over the No. 3 Buckeyes. That game was in the 1992 Midwest Regional Finals in Lexington, Ky.
Buckeyes 3-1 vs. Nittany Lions when ranked
Ohio State has taken an Associated Press Top 25 ranking into just four games against Penn State. The Buckeyes have come away with a 3-1 record in those games. The No. 7 Buckeyes defeated Penn State Jan. 2, 1992 in Columbus 73-63. Last season, the No. 10 Buckeyes fell to PSU 98-85 in overtime in State College. Earlier this season, the No. 5 Buckeyes downed Penn State in Columbus, 88-75 and in State College, 79-73.
The Michigan and PSU Series
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Michigan 78-67 following an 88-67 win over the Wolverines earlier this season in Ann Arbor. Michigan leads 41-32 in Ann Arbor while the Buckeyes hold a 45-25 edge in Columbus. Michigan’s last win in the series was an 84-74 win in Ann Arbor, Jan. 16, 1999.
Ohio State took the lead in the series with Penn State with its 11th win against the Nittany Lions in State College last week. Ohio State is 8-3 in games played in Columbus and just 3-6 in State College. Penn State won the only meeting on a neutral court in 1950, 67-58. That game was played as part of the Michigan State Holiday Classic in East Lansing Dec. 30, 1950.
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 56-94
Indiana 66-92
Iowa 59-67
Michigan 78-67
Michigan State 44-51
Minnesota 69-50
Northwestern 97-44
Penn State 11-10
Purdue 67-77
Wisconsin 78-53
Totals 625-605
OSU 3-point field goal streak extended to 247
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 247 games. Scoonie Penn extended the streak early in the first half against Minnesota. 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 239-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.
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.
