Buckeyes Knock Off Another Ranked Opponent, Beat No. 16 Wisconsin 63-58 – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2001
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – When the NCAA selection committee picks tournament%^$teams, Ohio State coach Jim O’Brien hopes they take a look at what the Buckeyes%^$did Saturday.%^$
“This win helps our portfolio,” O’Brien said after his team beat No. 16%^$Wisconsin 63-58. “Whenever we need to make our case, this will really help%^$us.”%^$
Ken Johnson made two foul shots with 41.7 seconds left and Ohio State%^$limited Wisconsin to two free throws in the last four minutes to pull off the%^$Buckeyes’ latest upset.%^$
The Buckeyes (16-8, 7-5 Big Ten) lost their first four games against ranked%^$opponents this season, but have beaten No. 3 Michigan State, No. 14 Iowa and%^$the Badgers in the last two weeks.%^$
“It keeps us in the hunt,” O’Brien said. “You survive until the next%^$game. A game like this gives you some impetus for what may happen next month.%^$This one sure helps.”%^$
Brent Darby scored 18 points, Johnson and Brian Brown each had 13 and Sean%^$Connolly added 10 as Ohio State won its third in a row and ended the Badgers’%^$five-game winning streak.%^$
“This was big for us,” said Darby, a point guard who also had six rebounds%^$to go with four assists. “To go where we want to go, we had to win today.”%^$
Wisconsin (15-6, 6-4), led by 10 points in the first half. The Badgers took%^$a 56-53 lead on Kirk Penney’s 3-pointer with 3:59 remaining, but missed their%^$last six shots.%^$
“We didn’t execute down the stretch and Ohio State did,” Wisconsin coach%^$Brad Soderberg said. “In this league, in a close game, that’s the separator.”%^$
They still led 58-56 on a pair of foul shots with 2:12 left by Mark Vershaw,%^$who had a team-high 13 points.%^$
After the teams traded misses, Ohio State freshman Zach Williams hit a%^$15-foot jumper at the 1:15 mark to pull the Buckeyes into a tie.%^$
On its next possession, Wisconsin still had 7 seconds left on the shot clock%^$when Vershaw drove to the basket and – with defender Williams hitting the floor%^$in an attempt to draw a charge – flipped up an off-balance shot that banged off%^$the rim. Johnson rebounded and was fouled.%^$
Johnson, limping because of a leg injury, made both to give Ohio State the%^$lead for good.%^$
“I was hurting at the end of the game, but the thing about being hurt is%^$you have to be tough mentally,” he said. “I didn’t want to let us down.”%^$
Andy Kowske, who had 10 points, missed a 14-foot baseline jumper for the%^$Badgers with 17 seconds remaining.%^$
“I was not pleased with our shots,” Soderberg said. “I would have%^$preferred to attack the rim than to have Andy shoot that. That’s a tough%^$shot.”%^$
Darby rebounded and was fouled and hit the first shot to make it 61-58. His%^$second bounded long off the rim and Johnson tapped the ball back toward%^$midcourt.%^$
“He made a brilliant play,” O’Brien said.%^$
The ball went to Connolly, who was immediately fouled. He made the first but%^$missed the second with 14 seconds left.%^$
The miss ended Connolly’s string of 25 consecutive made free throws. He had%^$not missed since Dec. 13.%^$
Wisconsin hit 54 percent of its shots in the first half but just 30 percent%^$(6-of-20) in the second.%^$
O’Brien said he had wanted to remain in a man-to-man defense, but was talked%^$into going to a zone in the second half by his assistant coaches. The move paid%^$off.%^$
“Their changing defenses disrupted our rhythm in the second half,”%^$Soderberg said.%^$
Johnson said he hoped another win over another ranked team got the attention%^$of the right people.%^$
“I hope this impresses the selection committee,” he said. “But we still%^$have to focus on the next game.”
