Men’s Basketball Faces Purdue – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/12/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Feb. 12, 2001
Opponent: Purdue
Site: Mackey Arena (14,123)
Game Time: 6 p.m. (EST)
TV: ESPN Regional
Local TV: WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent: Tom Hamilton (P-by-P)
Bill Hosket (Color)
Radio: OSU Radio Network (63 stations)
Local Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent: Paul Keels (P-by-P)
Ron Stokes (Color)
Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (16-8, 7-5)
G 3-Sean Connolly, 6-5, So.
G 21-Boban Savovic, 6-5, Jr.
G 13-Brian Brown, 6-4, Jr.
C 32-Ken Johnson, 6-11, Sr.
F 33-Zach Williams, 6-7, Fr.
Purdue Boilermakers
Probable Starters (13-9, 5-6)
G 20-Kenneth Lowe, 6-3, So.
G 43-Carson Cunningham, 6-1, Sr.
F 21-Adam Wetzel, 6-9, So.
F 12-Maynard Lewis, 6-1, Jr.
F 3-Brett Buscher, 6-8, Fr.
Brown, Darby lead Buckeyes to 2-0 week, Brown earns Big Ten honor
Brian Brown averaged 16.5 points in the two wins over No. 14 Iowa and No. 16 last week while adding 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 32.5 minutes a game. He scored on 12-of-19 field goal attempts (.632) and 5-of-6 3-point attempts (.833). Those numbers were good enough to earn Brown Big Ten Player of the Week honors, his second of the season. Sophomore Brent Darby came off the bench to average 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the wins last week. He connected on 53 percent (9-17) of his shots from the field in an average of 32.5 minutes a game in wins over No. 14 Iowa and No. 16 Wisconsin.
Recent wins earn votes in major polls
Ohio State turned some heads in recent weeks with three wins over teams ranked in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Ohio State received 21 votes in the most recent AP poll to rank No. 33 nationally. Six coaches voted for Ohio State in the most recent ESPN/USA Today coaches poll to rate the Buckeyes No. 38 in that poll.
Darby scores 18 to lead Buckeyes over No. 16 Badgers
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 have beaten No. 3 Michigan State, No. 14 Iowa and the No. 16 Badgers in the last two weeks. 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. Wisconsin 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. 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 made both to give Ohio State the lead for good.
Noting the win over No. 16 Wisconsin
Ohio State extended its streak of consecutive games with atleast one 3-point goal made when Brent Darby hit a 3-pointer in thefirst half. OSU has connected on at least one 3-point goal in274-consecutive games. Johnson blocked one shot, giving him 421 forhis career – 7 behind former Penn State star Calvin Booth, whorejected 428 from 1995-99. Johnson is just the second player in BigTen Conference history to block 400 or more shots in a career. With102 blocked shots this season, Johnson stands No. 2 on the OSUsingle-season chart. Johnson holds the top three spots on the listwith 161 (No. 1) last season and 100 (No. 3) in 1998-99. Ohio Stateis now 42-6 all-time and 13-3 this season at Value City Arena.Value City Arena was sold out (19,200) for the 3rd-straight gameand 4th time this season. Ohio State has won two-consecutive games,both over ranked teams, after trailing its opponents at halftime.OSU is 2-5 this year in games it was down after 20 minutes of play.With the victory over the No. 16 Badgers, OSU improved to 3-4 onthe year against teams ranked in the AP Top 25. Ken Johnson startedhis 116th career game, tying him with Perry Carter (1988-91) forthird on the all-time OSU starters list. Johnson is one of eightplayers in Ohio State history to start 100 or more games in hisBuckeye career. Sean Connolly hit three of his four free-throwattempts, missing his final attempt of the game at 0:14 to snap hisconsecutive free throws made streak at 25. He had not missed a shotfrom the line since the St. John’s game (12/13/00). Brent Darby’s18 points in the contest marked the 11th of his career in doublefigures. OSU is 10-1 when Darby scores 10 or more.
Unranked Buckeyes win 3 vs. ranked teams for 1st time since 1992-93
Ohio State, unranked in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls, has defeated its last three ranked opponents. The last time the Buckeyes defeated three ranked teams as an unranked squad was during the 1992-93 season when OSU downed No. 22 Iowa, No. 1 Indiana and No. 18 Purdue. An unranked Buckeye squad has not defeated three-consecutive ranked teams since the 1987-88 season. OSU was victorious against No. 16 Iowa, No. 10 Michigan and No. 17 Illinois from Jan. 14-Feb. 4. Ohio State last had a three-game winning streak vs. ranked foes in 1998-99 when the Buckeyes won six-consecutive games vs. ranked foes on their way to the Final Four.
Johnson owns Top 3 spots in single season blocks
With 102 blocks this year, senior Ken Johnson has his name listed at the Top 3 positions on the Ohio State single-season blocked shots chart. His 161 blocks as a junior is an OSU single season record. He swatted 100 as a sophomore, the third highest single season total. His senior total rates No. 2.
Johnson 2nd in Big Ten to 400 career blocks
Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 421 blocks in his career after swatting one against Wisconsin (2/10/01). Johnson is second in Big Ten history in career blocks. Calvin Booth of Penn State (1995-99) is the next target at No. 1 with 428 career blocks. Johnson cracked the Top 10 in Big Ten single-season block records for the third time at Iowa. He already owns the No. 1 spot with 161 in 1999-00 and the No. 9 spot with 100 in 1998-99. His 102 this season rates No. 7.
Big Ten Career Blocked Shots leaders 1. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-99 428 2. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998- 420 3. Acie Earl, IOWA 1989-93 365 4. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-80 349 5. Herb Williams, OSU 1977-81 328
Big Ten Season Blocked Shot leaders 1. Ken Johnson, OSU 1999-00 161 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. Ken Johnson, OSU 2000-01 102 8. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-96 101 9. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998-99 100 10.Dean Garrett, IND 1987-88 99
Johnson in Top 10 in NCAA career blocks
Ken Johnson sits atop the Ohio State career list, is currently second on the all-time Big Ten career list and is in the Top 10 in career blocks in NCAA history. His current total of 421 ranks No. 8 all-time in NCAA career blocks. Johnson is one of only 11 players in the history of college basketball to block 400 or more shots. Johnson reached the 400 mark with six blocks at Michigan State (1/21/01). He passed LSU’s Shaquille O’Neal, No. 10 all-time in career blocks (412), with five against Indiana (1/31/01). Johnson took over the No. 8 spot with six rejections at Iowa (2/7/01). Next up is No. 7 Etan Thomas (Syracuse) with 424 and No. 6 Theo Ratliff (Wyoming) with 425. Penn State’s Calvin Booth, the all-time leader in Big Ten history, is No. 5 on the NCAA chart with 428. Johnson has averaged 3.5 blocks a game over his career, that average rates among the Top 20 all time in NCAA history at No. 17.
Brown enjoys best season as a Buckeye
Junior Brian Brown is having his most productive season as a Buckeye. In this his third year, he has single season highs in field goals (125), 3-pointers made (33), free throws made (75), assists (97), steals (37), points (358) and scoring average (14.9). His career scoring average is 8.6 ppg.
Several Buckeyes increase production in Big Ten Conference play
Point production has increased during the Big Ten Conference portion of the schedule for three regulars. Junior Brian Brown is consistent with his offensive output with 14.9 ppg. overall and 15.7 ppg. in conference games. Senior Ken Johnson averages 13.5 points in league games and 12.3 ppg. overall. Sophomore Brent Darby averages 9.2 ppg. in the league and 8.4 ppg. on the season. Johnson averages 7.8 rebounds a game in the league and 7.1 rpg. overall.
Brown, Johnson account for majority of Ohio State’s double figure scoring games
Buckeye players have 72 individual double-figure scoring efforts in 24 games this season. Brian Brown leads with 22 with Ken Johnson close behind with 18. Brown has a streak of 14-consecutive games with 10 or more points.
Buckeyes earn 7th win over a defending national champion
Ohio State has met the defending national champion 29 times in history with a 7-22 record in those games following the win over Michigan State. The Buckeyes have a 24-52 record against teams who participated in the Final Four the previous year. The Buckeyes just finished a stretch of four games against 2000 Final Four teams, defending national champion Michigan State, twice, and 2000 Final Four participant Wisconsin, twice. Ohio State split the season series with both teams. Before the recent win over the Spartans, the last time OSU downed a defending national champion was during the 1989-90 season when the Buckeyes won 64-61 over No. 5 Michigan (2/18/90). Michigan won the 1989 national title.
Buckeyes pay back road games after run of home contests
Before traveling to Michigan State (1/21/01), Ohio State enjoyed 12 home games in a stretch of 13 contests. Ohio State will now travel for six of the final eight games of the season.
Buckeyes start same four all season
Four of the five OSU starters have remained constant all season with senior Ken Johnson, juniors Brian Brown and Boban Savovic and freshman Zach Williams starting all 23 contests this season. Sophomores Brent Darby (15 starts) and Sean Connolly (9 starts) have been the only changes to the lineup this season.
Ohio State vs. ranked opponents
The Buckeyes played the seventh ranked opponent of the season at home vs. No. 16 Iowa. The Buckeyes are 122-191 vs. teams in the AP Top 25. Four of the seven ranked teams OSU has faced this year have been in the AP Top 10. Ohio State has played No. 16 Wisconsin, twice, No. 14 Iowa, No. 6 Illinois, No. 5 Michigan State, twice, and No. 3 Kansas this season. Syracuse, currently ranked, was not in the Top 25 when OSU played the Orangemen at the great Alaska Shootout earlier this year.
Johnson getting closer to Big Ten record
Ken Johnson is closing on the Big Ten record for career blocks, currently held by PSU’s Calvin Booth. Booth finished his career with 428 rejections. Johnson needs eight blocks the remainder of the season to surpass Booth. Ohio State has a minimum of six games remaining this season. Johnson needs to average 1.3 blocks a game to claim record. He is averaging 4.3 blocks this season and 3.5 blocks a game over his career.
Visitors struggle to win at VCA
Ohio State has lost just six home games in the 3-year history of Value City Arena. The Buckeyes have a combined record of 42-6 all time at the VCA. In the six home losses, no team has won by more than three points. The Buckeyes have lost by an average of 2.5 points in the six games.
O’Brien reaches career win No. 300
Jim O’Brien earned career win No. 300 as a collegiate head coach with the 93-62 win over Morehead St. (12/16/00). O’Brien is 309-263 in 19 seasons as a head coach. He has a record of 74-46, including a record of 66-24 over the last three seasons with the Buckeyes. O’Brien spent 11 seasons at his alma mater, Boston College. His teams compiled a record of 168-166 record with six postseason appearances, including three trips to the NCAA Tournament in his last four years. O’Brien started his career at St. Bonaventure, where in four seasons, his teams posted a record of 67-51 (.568). His 100th career win came against Maine Dec. 6, 1988 (87-59) with No. 200 coming against Hartford Dec. 23, 1995 (106-67). O’Brien won both those games at Boston College.
Ohio State to host NCAA Tournament 1st, 2nd rounds in 2004
The Ohio State Department of Athletics, along with Nationwide Arena and the Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, has been selected to host the 2004 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds, the NCAA announced Dec. 7. Ohio State will serve as the host institution for the 2004 Midwest Region early round contests. The games will be played at Nationwide Arena March 19 and 21, 2004.
Johnson, No. 1 in Big Ten
Ohio State senior Ken Johnson holds the No. 1 spot in the Big Ten with an average of 4.3 blocks a game (102).
Robinson back in uniform
Doylan Robinson (Akron, Ohio/Buchtel), a junior guard, has been out of action recovering from injuries sustained as a passenger in a traffic accident Sunday, Dec. 3, 2000. Robinson suffered several lacerations to his face and right hand. He is expected to recover fully. Robinson has played in five games to date for the Buckeyes. He is averaging 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.4 minutes a game. He has resumed practicing and was dressed for the Ohio State vs. Indiana contest Jan. 31.
Johnson No. 1 on OSU career swat chart
Ken Johnson has 102 blocks on the season for a career total of 421, which places him first all-time at Ohio State in career rejections. Johnson passed Herb Williams (1978-81) at the Great Alaska Shootout in November. Johnson averaged 1.9 bpg. (58/30 gms.) as a freshman, 2.8 bpg. (100/36 gms.) as a sophomore and 5.37 bpg. (161/30 gms.) in 1999-00. He has an average of 4.25 blocks a game this season.
1,000 career points on horizon for Johnson
In 120 career games, senior Ken Johnson is closing on career point No. 1,000 as a Buckeye. He has scored 963 for a career scoring average of 8.0 a contest in his four seasons at Ohio State. With 37 more points this year, he will become the 39th player in OSU history to reach 1,000 career points. He is averaging 12.3 points this season, the highest single-season scoring average of his career.
Johnson paces Buckeyes in the Big Ten
Among Big Ten players, senior Ken Johnson rates among the Top 10 in four statistical categories. He is the league’s best shot blocker with 4.25 rejections a game. With a .559 field goal shooting percentage, he rates No. 5. He also is fourth in defensive rebounds (5.04) and seventh in overall rebounds per game (7.1). Sophomore Sean Connolly is the No. 3 3-point shooter in the conference with a .446 shooting percentage. Junior Brian Brown is No. 6 in steals (1.54).
Johnson moving up career starts list
Ken Johnson has started 116 career games since the 1997-98 season. He is one of only eight Buckeyes to reach 100 or more career starts. Johnson is tied at No. 3 with Perry Carter (1988-91) who also started 116 career games.
Illinois stops losing streak vs. Purdue
Brian Cook scored 17 points and Illinois used a 24-7 second-half run to breeze to an 82-61 victory over Purdue. The Illini ended a nine-game losing streak to Purdue, which played without leading scorer Rodney Smith and leading rebounder and shot-blocker John Allison. Both missed the game with foot injuries. Carson Cunningham, who led the Boilermakers with 25 points, hit a 3-pointer to cut the Illinois lead to 46-41 with 15:30 to go, but Cook followed with a basket and Robert Archibald converted a layup off a Purdue turnover to start the game-clinching run. Cook hit another 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 55-43, and Cory Bradford’s 3-pointer pushed the advantage to 70-48. Illinois was 8-of-18 from 3-point range and 22-of-27 from the free-throw line. Purdue was 8-of-16 from 3-point range. Adam Wetzel, who replaced Allison, and Brett Buscher, who replaced Smith, combined for five points.
Lowe leads available Purdue players
Purdue sophomore Kenneth Lowe averages 11.4 points a contest to lead the available Boilermaker players against Ohio State. Leading scorer Rodney Smith (14.8 ppg.) and No. 3 scorer John Allison (10.9 ppg.) are both out of action with foot injuries. Allison averaged 5.6 rebounds a game just ahead of Smith with 5.1 rpg. Junior guard Maynard Lewis is next at 3.5 rpg.
Keady in 21st season in West Lafayette
Purdue head coach Gene Keady has a career record of 452-200 in 21 seasons at the helm of the Boilermaker men’s basketball program. In 23 seasons as a head coach, which includes a two-year stint at Western Kentucky, Keady has a record of 491-220. Purdue is 13-9 this season.
The Purdue series
The Boilermakers have a 10-game lead in the all-time series with Ohio State, 77-67, though the Buckeyes have won the last three meetings. Ohio State trails Purdue in West Lafayette, 51-21. The Buckeyes have the advantage in Columbus, 46-26. Ohio State has not won four consecutive games against Purdue since the 1971-73 seasons when OSU won five-consecutive games.
The Buckeyes vs. Purdue
Ohio State sophomore Sean Connolly played his only Big Ten game against Purdue while a freshman at Providence during the 1998-99 season. He scored eight points in an 78-82 Providence win (12/27/98) in Rhode Island. Ken Johnson has averaged 7.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in five meetings with the Boilermakers, the most of any current OSU player.
Leading the Buckeyes
Junior Brian Brown leads the Buckeyes offensively with a scoring average of 14.9 points per game. He leads the team in minutes played (33.7 mpg.). Sophomore Sean Connolly leads in 3-point shooting (37-83, .446). Connolly is the team’s leading free throw shooter (31-39, .795). Ken Johnson is the team’s leading rebounder with 7.1 a game. He is the most accurate Buckeye from the field as well hitting 56 percent of his shots (109-195). Brown leads in assists with 97 and steals, 37.
OSU opponents fare well in polls
Seven 2000-01 Buckeye opponents are rated among the Top 25 in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Illinois (4/5), Michigan State (5/4), Kansas (6/6), Syracuse (10/7), Wisconsin (19/20), Alabama (21/17) and Iowa (25/24) are rated in the Top 25.
Johnson led nation in blocks, average fifth in NCAA
Ohio State center Ken Johnson led the Big Ten and the nation in blocks in 1999-00. Johnson sent back 5.37 shots per game with 161 blocks on the year. Johnson has the fifth highest block per game average in NCAA history. His total of 161 is the seventh most in a single season in NCAA history.
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 5.37 # Led nation in blocks.
Big Ten coaches, media select Johnson preseason First Team All-Big Ten
The Big Ten men’s basketball coaches and league media chose Ken Johnson (Sr., Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) as a preseason First Team All-Big Ten selection. The announcement was made Oct. 30 at the annual Big Ten Men’s Basketball media day. Johnson joins Cory Bradford (Illinois), Charlie Bell (Michigan State), Kirk Haston (Indiana) and LaVell Blanchard (Michigan) on the squad selected by the coaches. The media selected the same squad with the exception of Haston. Joe Crispin of Penn State filled that spot. Johnson, who averaged nearly eight points, over six rebounds and 5.4 blocks a game last year as a junior, is the only senior on Ohio State’s squad this season.
A change in lineup
Ohio State used its second starting lineup of the season with sophomore Sean Connolly starting in place of sophomore Brent Darby against Eastern Kentucky. Darby had a slight knee sprain but did play vs. the Colonels. According to STATS Inc., Ohio State was among just six schools to use just one or two different starting lineups in 1999-00. Hawaii used the same starters all season. Ohio State, Southern Illinois, St. John’s, Vermont and Wofford used just two lineups in 1999-00.
2-year home record rates high at OSU
Ohio State has compiled a 42-6 (.875) record over three seasons in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes were 14-1 in the inaugural season in VCA (1998-99) and notched a 15-2 record at home in 1999-00. In back-to-back seasons in which the Buckeyes have won at least 25 combined home games, the OSU record from 1999-00 of 29-3 stands fourth all-time for home record in consecutive seasons. The record over the 2000-01 seasons is 28-5, which rates No. 5 for combined two-year record all-time. The 1962-63 teams posted a 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 2000-01 28-5 .848 1985-86 26-5 .839 1982-83 25-5 .833 1986-87 26-7 .788 1985-86 26-5 .781
OSU 3-pt FG streak extended to 274
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 274 games. Sophomore Sean Connolly extended the streak in the first half against Iowa (2/7/01). 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 266-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.
OSU vs. the Big Ten
The Buckeyes opened the Big Ten season Jan. 3 at home against Northwestern. The Buckeyes have more victories over the Wildcats (98) than any other league school. Ohio State has 78 wins each over Michigan and Wisconsin. Illinois has the most wins over the Buckeyes with 95. This is the 89th season of Big Ten play for Ohio State in men’s basketball.
Big Ten Series Records
Illinois 56-95
Indiana66-93
Iowa 60-67
Michigan 79-67
Michigan State 45-52
Minnesota 71-50
Northwestern 98-44
Penn State 11-12
Purdue 67-77
Wisconsin 79-54
Totals 631-611
Johnson helps Olympic team prepare for Gold in Sydney
Ken Johnson was selected as one of 12 collegiate players who gathered to practice against the 2000 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball team last summer in Maui, Hawaii. Johnson was the only true center on the 2000 USA Basketball Men’s Select team and its tallest player at 6-feet 11-inches. The Select team scrimmaged the Olympic team each day during the week-long camp. The camp ended with a nationally-televised (NBC) contest Sept. 2 at the University of Hawaii Stan Sheriff Center.
