Men’s Basketball Names 2000-01 Captains – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/24/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 24, 2000
COLUMBUS, Ohio–Jim O’Brien, Ohio State head men’s basketball coach, announced Ken Johnson (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) and Brian Brown (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) will serve as team captains for the 2000-01 season.
Johnson, who will be a fifth-year senior for the 2000-01 season, led the nation in blocked shots as a junior with 161. He has started 92 games in the last three seasons and has appeared in 96 contests.
In three years on the court, Johnson has compiled 319 blocks, nine shy of the OSU career record of 328 held by Herb Williams (1977-81). Johnson has a chance to become the all-time record holder for blocked shots in the Big Ten Conference. With 110 more rejections, he will overtake Calvin Booth, who swatted 428 during his career (1995-99) at Penn State.
Brown, who will be a junior next year, has started the last 35 games at guard for the Buckeyes, including all 30 contests as a sophomore. He averaged 8.9 points per game last year, more than doubling his 4.1 scoring average from his freshman season.
O’Brien said the two have proven the maturity necessary to handle the responsibilities of being an Ohio State captain.
“Ken has matured over the last couple years and will make an outstanding captain for our team,” O’Brien said. “He deserves this opportunity and we have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead the other members of our squad.”
Brown also has risen to the challenges presented to him over the last two seasons, O’Brien said.
“Brian helped us to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and his leadership abilities have been evident ever since he joined our team,” O’Brien said. “We like his attitude and his desire to succeed. He and Ken complement each other well. They will set the tone and the example for our young players over the summer and during fall practice.”
