Buckeyes Head To Tuscaloosa For Matchup With Alabama – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2001
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Opponent: No. 21 Alabama
%^$Site: Coleman Coliseum (15,043)
%^$Game Time: 4 p.m. (EST)%^$
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Ohio State’s RPI and SOS on the rise
%^$ With a four-game winning streak, three of which have come on the%^$road, and victories over three ranked teams in the last five games,%^$including two on the road, Ohio State has made a move in the Rating%^$Percentage Index (RPI). The RPI is used by the NCAA selection committee to%^$select teams for the NCAA Tournament. CollegeRPI.com, an unofficial RPI, has%^$Ohio State rated No. 31 nationally. Five teams rated in the AP Top 25 are%^$rated lower. No. 13 Oklahoma has an RPI of 33 followed by No. 11 Florida%^$(38), No. 21 Alabama (39), No. 18 Georgetown (45) and No. 17 Maryland (61).%^$Of the 38 teams rated higher in the RPI, 12 have a strength of schedule%^$rated below Ohio State’s, including No. 2 Stanford (39 SOS), No. 7 Iowa%^$State (58), No. 9 Boston College (55) and No. 20 Fresno State (90).%^$
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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%^$Wisconsin.%^$
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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.%^$
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Dudley’s buzzer-beater gives Buckeyes 65-64 road win at Purdue
%^$ Will Dudley’s basket as time expired negated an inspired comeback by%^$Purdue and gave the Buckeyes a thrilling 65-64 win over the Boilermakers.%^$The Buckeyes led almost the entire game, but saw the Boilermakers rally from%^$a 14-point, second-half deficit. Purdue took a 64-63 lead on a Carson%^$Cunningham 3-pointer with 7.6 seconds left. The Buckeyes hurried down the%^$court for one last shot. Dudley grabbed the rebound off an airball and put%^$it back in. Brent Darby led the Buckeyes with 17 points. After scoring only%^$three points in the first half, Cunningham carried Purdue in the second.%^$Ohio State took its biggest lead, 39-25, early in the second half. Darby’s%^$3-pointer put them up 45-32, but then the Boilermakers went on a 25-12 run.%^$Joe Marshall’s 3-pointer cut the gap to 49-43. Maynard Lewis later connected%^$on 3-pointers in successive possessions and Purdue trailed 51-49. They%^$eventually tied the score at 57-57 after Cunningham’s 3-pointer from the top%^$of the arc. Cunningham finished with 17 points, and he was 4-of-9 from%^$3-point range. Sean Connolly and Darby each made two 3-pointers to help Ohio%^$State to a 35-25 halftime edge.%^$
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Noting the win over Purdue
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- The one-point win over Purdue (65-64) gives the Buckeyes an all-time%^$record of 62-56 (.525) in games decided by one point. Ohio State has played%^$three one-point games this season, a home loss to Kansas (69-68) and road%^$wins over Iowa (69-68) and Purdue (65-64).%^$
- The Buckeyes have won three-consecutive road games in the Big Ten with%^$victories over Minnesota, Iowa and Purdue. Ohio State won its last three%^$games last year to clinch a share of the Big Ten title with wins over%^$Indiana, Penn State and Minnesota.%^$
- Ohio State went to the foul line just six times, hitting five free throws%^$vs. the Boilermakers. The 5-of-6 effort were season lows for both made and%^$attempted free throws.%^$
- Junior Brian Brown handed out four assists to give him 101 on the season,%^$marking the first time in his career he has reached the century mark in%^$assists.%^$
- The Buckeyes have not played three one-point games in the same season%^$since the 1987-88 campaign when OSU lost three close ones to Dayton (81-80),%^$Wisconsin (64-63) and Michigan State (78-77). The Wisconsin game was on the%^$road and the MSU game went to overtime.%^$
- The Buckeyes defeated St. John’s 65-64 last season on the road and have%^$not won three consecutive one-point games on the road for the first time%^$since the 1967-68, 1968-69 seasons over Indiana, Kentucky and Washington%^$State. Ohio State has won eight of its last 11 games decided by one point.%^$
- The win over Purdue assured Ohio State of at least an 8-8 record in the%^$Big Ten, marking the third consecutive season have been .500 or better in%^$the league. Ohio State last had three-consecutive seasons with a .500 or%^$better record from 1990-92.%^$
- Ohio State extended its streak of consecutive games with at least one%^$3-point goal made when Brian Brown hit a 3-pointer in the first half. OSU%^$has connected on at least one 3-point goal in 275-consecutive games.%^$
- Ken Johnson blocked two shots, giving him 423 for his career – 5 behind%^$former Penn State star Calvin Booth, who rejected 428 from 1995-99. Johnson%^$is just the second player in Big Ten Conference history to block 400 or more%^$shots in a career.%^$
- With 104 blocked shots this season, Johnson stands No. 2 on the OSU%^$single-season chart. Johnson holds the top three spots on the list with 161%^$(No. 1) last season and 100 (No. 3) in 1998-99.%^$
- Ohio State led the Boilermakers 35-25 at the half and held on for the%^$65-64 victory. Ohio State is 15-2 this season when leading at the half.%^$
- Ken Johnson started his 117th career game, moving him into the No. 3 spot%^$all time in career starts at OSU. Jamaal Brown (1989-92) and Jerry Francis%^$(1986-89) are tied for the career lead with 126 starts. Johnson is one of%^$eight players in Ohio State history to start 100 or more games in his%^$Buckeye career.%^$
- Sean Connolly hit a pair of free throw attempts and has now made 27 of his%^$last 28 from the foul line.%^$
- Brent Darby’s 17 points in the contest marked the 12th time in his career%^$he has scored double figures. OSU is 11-1 when Darby scores 10 or more.%^$
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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.%^$
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Johnson owns Top 3 spots in single season blocks
%^$ With 104 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.%^$2.%^$
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Johnson 2nd in Big Ten to 400 career blocks
%^$ Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 423 blocks in his career after%^$swatting two at Purdue (2/14/01). Johnson is second in Big Ten history in%^$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%^$104 this season rates No. 7.%^$
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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 423 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%^$20 all time in NCAA history at No. 17.%^$
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Brown enjoys best season as a Buckeye
%^$ Junior Brian Brown is having his most productive season as a%^$Buckeye. In this his third year, he has single season highs in field goals%^$(128), 3-pointers made (34), free throws made (75), assists (101), steals%^$(38), points (365) and scoring average (14.6). His career scoring average is%^$8.6 ppg.%^$
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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 14.6 ppg. overall and 15.0 ppg. in conference%^$games. Senior Ken Johnson averages 13.3 points in league games and 12.2 ppg.%^$overall. Sophomore Brent Darby averages 9.8 ppg. in the league and 8.8 ppg.%^$on the season. Johnson averages 7.7 rebounds a game in the league and 7.1%^$rpg. overall.%^$
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Brown, Johnson account for majority of Ohio State’s double figure scoring%^$games
%^$ Buckeye players have 75 individual double-figure scoring efforts in%^$25 games this season. Brian Brown leads with 22 with Ken Johnson close%^$behind with 19.%^$
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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%^$Michigan (2/18/90). Michigan won the 1989 national title.%^$
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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.%^$
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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 25 contests this season. Sophomores Brent Darby (15%^$starts) and Sean Connolly (10 starts) have been the only changes to the%^$lineup this season.%^$
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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.%^$
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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 six blocks the remainder of the season to surpass%^$Booth. Ohio State has a minimum of five games remaining this season. Johnson%^$needs to average 1.2 blocks a game to claim record. He is averaging 4.2%^$blocks this season and 3.5 blocks a game over his career.%^$
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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.%^$The Buckeyes have lost by an average of 2.5 points in the six games.%^$
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O’Brien reaches career win No. 300
%^$ Jim O’Brien earned career win No. 300 as a collegiate head coach%^$with the 93-62 win over Morehead St. (12/16/00). O’Brien is 310-263 in 19%^$seasons as a head coach. He has a record of 75-46, including a record of%^$67-24 over the last three seasons with the Buckeyes. O’Brien spent 11%^$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.%^$
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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%^$games will be played at Nationwide Arena March 19 and 21, 2004.%^$
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Johnson, No. 1 in Big Ten
%^$ Ohio State senior Ken Johnson holds the No. 1 spot in the Big Ten%^$with an average of 4.2 blocks a game (104).%^$
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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.%^$
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Johnson No. 1 on OSU career swat chart
%^$ Ken Johnson has 104 blocks on the season for a career total of 423,%^$which places him first all-time at Ohio State in career rejections. Johnson%^$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%^$4.16 blocks a game this season.%^$
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1,000 career points on horizon for Johnson
%^$ In 121 career games, senior Ken Johnson is closing on career point%^$No. 1,000 as a Buckeye. He has scored 974 for a career scoring average of%^$8.0 a contest in his four seasons at Ohio State. With 26 more points this%^$year, he will become the 39th player in OSU history to reach 1,000 career%^$points. He is averaging 12.2 points this season, the highest single-season%^$scoring average of his career.%^$
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Johnson paces Buckeyes in the Big Ten
%^$ Among Big Ten players, senior Ken Johnson rates among the Top 10 in%^$four statistical categories. He is the league’s best shot blocker with 4.16%^$rejections a game. With a .559 field goal shooting percentage, he rates No.%^$5. He also is fourth in defensive rebounds (5.00) and seventh in overall%^$rebounds per game (7.1). Sophomore Sean Connolly is the No. 2 3-point%^$shooter in the conference with a .443 shooting percentage. Junior Brian%^$Brown is No. 5 in 3-point shooting percentage (.425).%^$
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Johnson moving up career starts list
%^$ Ken Johnson has started 117 career games since the 1997-98 season.%^$He is one of only eight Buckeyes to reach 100 or more career starts. Johnson%^$is No. 3 on the OSU career starts list behind the 126 started by Jamaal%^$Brown (1989-92) and Jerry Francis (1986-89).%^$
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Tide rolls over Gamecocks
%^$ Kenny Walker hit two free throws with 11.3 seconds left as Alabama%^$held on for a 60-55 victory over South Carolina Wednesday. The Crimson Tide%^$had five players score in double figures. South Carolina cut a 10-point%^$deficit to 56-52 with 2:22 left on Jamel Bradley’s fourth 3-pointer. But Rod%^$Grizzard hit a jumper from the free throw line and Bradley missed the front%^$end of a 1-and-1 free-throw situation. Aaron Lucas followed with a%^$3-pointer from the top of the key with 57 seconds left to make it 58-55.%^$Then Lucas drew a charge from Travis Stinnett, but South Carolina couldn’t%^$get a shot to fall on the other end and Walker was fouled. He finished with%^$11 points and nine rebounds as Alabama dominated the boards 44-33. Terrance%^$Meade had 12 points, while Grizzard scored all 11 of his in the final 17%^$minutes. Alabama improved to 14-0 at Coleman Coliseum, tying the school%^$record for home wins despite Grizzard’s off night. The league’s top scorer%^$failed to score in the first half and missed his first six shots.%^$
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Four in double digits offensively for ‘Bama
%^$ Alabama is led by sophomore Rod Grizzard’s 18.3 points per game. He%^$is followed by classmate Erwin Dudley’s 14.5 ppg. Freshman Gerald Wallace%^$averages 11.0 ppg, just ahead of sophomore Terrance Meade’s 10.7 ppg. Dudley%^$is the team’s leading rebounder with an average of 9.6 rpg.%^$
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Gottfried in third year with Tide
%^$ Alabama head coach Mark Gottfried is 49-36 in three seasons with the%^$Crimson Tide. His career mark is 117-60 in six seasons as a head coach. He%^$spend three years at Murray State with a record of 68-24.%^$
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The Alabama series
%^$ Alabama and Ohio State have met four times on the hardwood with the%^$Buckeyes owning a 3-1 edge in the all-time series. The first meeting came%^$Dec. 20, 1969 in Tuscaloosa. The Tide won 96-68. The Buckeyes won the next%^$season in Columbus 74-58 (12/7/70). The teams met in the NIT semifinals in%^$New York March 21, 1979 with the Buckeyes claiming victory 96-86. The series%^$was resumed Nov. 15, 1998 in Columbus with the Buckeyes winning 78-70.%^$
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OSU vs. the Southeastern Conference
%^$ Ohio State has not played a member of the Southeastern Conference%^$since eliminating No. 4 Auburn 71-64 March 18, 1999 in the NCAA Tournament%^$South Regional Semifinals. The Buckeyes have a 27-22 record over SEC teams,%^$including a 3-1 record vs. Alabama. The Buckeyes have faced every member of%^$the SEC except LSU.%^$
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Leading the Buckeyes
%^$ Junior Brian Brown leads the Buckeyes offensively with a scoring%^$average of 14.6 points per game. He leads the team in minutes played (33.2%^$mpg.). Sophomore Sean Connolly leads in 3-point shooting (39-88, .443).%^$Connolly is the team’s leading free throw shooter (33-41, .805). Ken Johnson%^$is the team’s leading rebounder with 7.1 a game. He is the most accurate%^$Buckeye from the field as well hitting 56 percent of his shots (114-204).%^$Brown leads in assists with 101 and steals, 38.%^$
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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%^$Iowa (25/24) are rated in the Top 25.%^$
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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.%^$
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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%^$season.%^$
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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.%^$
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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.%^$
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OSU 3-pt FG streak extended to 275
%^$ Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt%^$over the last 275 games. Sophomore Sean Connolly extended the streak in the%^$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%^$267-consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer made. Michigan went 0-10%^$from long range March 3, 1992 in an OSU 75-66 victory, marking the last time%^$an opponent was held without a 3-pointer.%^$
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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.
