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)
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).
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.
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.
Noting the win over Purdue
- 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 25 contests this season. Sophomores Brent Darby (15 starts) and Sean Connolly (10 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 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.
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 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.
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 4.2 blocks a game (104).
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 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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
