Men’s Basketball Set To Open Play At Big Ten Tournament – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 8, 2001
%^$Opponent Iowa or Northwestern
%^$Site United Center, Chicago (23,262)
%^$Game Time 10 p.m. (EST)
%^$TV ESPN2
%^$Local TV None
%^$TV Talent Dave Barnett (Play-by-Play)
%^$ Quinn Buckner (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)
%^$
%^$No. 3 seed Ohio State Buckeyes
%^$Probable Starters (20-9, 11-5)
%^$G 3-Sean Connolly, 6-5, So.
%^$G 21-Boban Savovic, 6-5, Jr.
%^$G 13-Brian Brown, 6-4, Jr.
%^$C 32-Ken Johnson, 6-11, Sr.
%^$F 33-Zach Williams, 6-7, Fr.
%^$
%^$No. 6 seed Iowa Hawkeyes
%^$Probable Starters (18-11, 7-9)
%^$G 20-Dean Oliver, 5-11, Sr.
%^$G 2-Ryan Hogan, 6-4, Jr.
%^$C 5-Jared Reiner, 6-11, Fr.
%^$F 32-Reggie Evans, 6-8, Jr.
%^$F 4-Glen Worley, 6-7, Fr.
%^$–OR–
%^$No. 11 Northwestern Wildcats
%^$Probable Starters (11-18, 3-13)
%^$G 5-Ben Johnson, 6-2, So.
%^$G 25-Jitim Young, 6-2, Fr.
%^$G 32-Collier Drayton, 6-2, Jr.
%^$F 33-Tavaras Hardy, 6-8, Jr.
%^$F 3-Winston Blake, 6-5, So.
%^$
%^$O’Brien earns 2nd Big Ten Coach of the Year in 4 years at Ohio State
%^$The Big Ten media selected Jim O’Brien as the 2001 Big Ten Coach%^$of the Year for the second time in his four years at Ohio State. O’Brien%^$was selected for the same honor in 1999. O’Brien has four coach of the%^$year honors in three NCAA Division I conferences. He was the 1983%^$Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year while at St. Bonaventure and was the BIG%^$EAST co-Coach of the Year in 1995-96 at Boston College. The Buckeyes%^$finished the 2000-01 regular season with a 20-9 overall record and an%^$11-5 mark in Big Ten. Ohio State lost its top three scorers from its Big%^$Ten Championship team in 1999-00 and did not return a double-digit%^$scorer in 2000-01.%^$
%^$Johnson tabbed First Team All-Big Ten by coaches, media
%^$Ohio State senior center Ken Johnson earned a spot on coaches’%^$and media All-Big Ten First Team following his best season as a Buckeye.%^$Johnson averaged career-highs with 12.4 points a game and 7.1 rebounds a%^$contest. He also had his best season on the offensive end of the court.%^$He shot 58 percent from the field (139-241) and 70 percent from the free%^$throw line (81-117). His 25 assists and 12 steals also were career bests%^$for a single season. Defensively, Johnson blocked 118 shots to become%^$the Big Ten career leader in blocked shots with 437. That total also%^$ranks No. 4 all-time in NCAA history. He also became the 39th player in%^$OSU history to reach 1,000 career points.%^$
%^$Johnson repeats as Big Ten’s best defensive player
%^$In the eyes of the Big Ten coaches, Ken Johnson is the Big Ten%^$Defensive Player of the Year. Johnson also earned the distinction last%^$year as a junior, when he blocked a Big Ten and Ohio State single season%^$record 161 shots and led the nation with a 5.37 blocks per game average.%^$As a senior, Johnson has blocked 118 shots to up his Big Ten record%^$total to 437.%^$
%^$Brown selected to All-Big Ten Third Team, honorable mention squad
%^$Junior Brian Brown has his most productive season as a Buckeye%^$to earn Third Team All-Big Ten accolades as selected by the Big Ten%^$media. League coaches placed Brown on the honorable mention squad. Brown%^$led the Buckeyes in scoring with 14.5 points a contest. He also led Ohio%^$State in field goals made (149), free throws made (86), assists (120),%^$steals (43) and minutes played (975). He shot 46 percent from the field%^$and 72 percent from the foul line while averaging 4.4 rebounds a%^$contest.%^$
%^$Buckeyes crack Top 25 for first time this season
%^$The Associated Press voters have rated the Buckeyes the No. 24%^$team nationally following the completion of the regular season in which%^$the Buckeyes finished 20-9 overall with an 11-5 Big Ten record. The%^$Buckeyes received 158 votes for Top 25 consideration. Ohio State spent%^$the final 10 weeks of the 1998-99 season and all 20 weeks of 1999-00%^$ranked among the Top 25 teams nationally in the Associated Press Poll.%^$The Buckeyes finished 1998-99 No. 14 and were No. 8 in the AP Poll in%^$1999-00.%^$
%^$Buckeyes look to improve on Big Ten Tournament fortunes
%^$Ohio State has a 1-3 record in three Big Ten Tournament%^$appearances. The Buckeyes lost its first game to Indiana 78-71 (3/5/98)%^$in the inaugural postseason league tournament. OSU downed Michigan 87-69%^$(3/5/99) before falling to Illinois (79-77 (3/6/99). The Buckeyes were%^$ousted by Penn State, 71-66 (3/1/00) last year. The Buckeyes, the No. 3%^$seed this season, will face either No. 6 Iowa or No. 11 Northwestern in%^$the opening round of the tournament this year.%^$
%^$Fifth-consecutive road win in Big Ten a first since 1971
%^$Ohio State started the Big Ten season with a 4-5 record and has%^$since gone 7-0, including five-consecutive road wins in the league. Ohio%^$State not won five-consecutive road games in Big Ten play since the%^$1970-71 season when OSU won all seven of its road contests on the way to%^$a 13-1 record in the league. Ohio State finished 20-6 that year and won%^$the Big Ten title.%^$
%^$Johnson selected to NABC District 10 First Team
%^$The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced%^$the NABC/Chevrolet Division I All-District Teams, recognizing the%^$country’s best men’s collegiate basketball student-athletes. Ohio State%^$senior center Ken Johnson (6-11, Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) is a%^$first-team selection in District 10. He is joined on the District 10%^$First Team by Troy Murphy (Notre Dame), David West (Xavier), Kirk Haston%^$(Indiana) and Tony Stanley (Dayton).%^$
%^$Buckeyes reach 11 wins in Big Ten for 3rd-consecutive season
%^$The win over Penn State gave the Buckeyes their 11th win in the Big Ten%^$for the third-consecutive year after a stretch of six-consecutive years%^$without reaching nine wins in the league. Ohio State has not put%^$together three-consecutive years with 11 or more wins in the league%^$since the 1962-64 seasons. The Buckeyes were in the final three seasons%^$of a five years stretch of winning the Big Ten Conference title. Ohio%^$State is currently vying for its 21st NCAA Tournament appearance and%^$third-consecutive trip to the Big Dance. OSU last went to the NCAA%^$Tournament three consecutive years from 1990-92. The Big Ten victory%^$over Northwestern (2/24/01) gave the Buckeyes their 26th campaign with%^$10 or more wins in Big Ten play.%^$
%^$Johnson reaches milestone in win over Northwestern
%^$Ohio State’s Ken Johnson claimed the Big Ten record for career blocks in%^$the 69-57 win over Northwestern (2/24/01). He passed Calvin Booth of%^$Penn State (1995-99) to claim the record. Johnson also passed Booth for%^$the No. 5 spot all time in NCAA history for career blocks. Johnson is%^$currently tied with No. 4 Lorenzo Coleman’s (Tenn. Tech) with 437 career%^$blocks.%^$
%^$Buckeyes show balance from long range, free throw line
%^$Four Buckeye regulars have each connected on at least 37 3-point shots%^$this season. Sophomore Sean Connolly leads the pack with 42 made treys%^$and is tops in 3-point shooting percentage (.416). Junior Boban Savovic%^$is second in made treys (38-97, .392) while classmate Brian Brown is%^$second in 3-point shooting percentage (.402, 37-92). Sophomore Brent%^$Darby also has 37 made 3-pointers (37-105, .352). Add Ken Johnson to the%^$above four and the Buckeyes have five players hitting 70 percent or%^$better from the foul line. Connolly again is the leader by percentage%^$(38-46, .826). He has made 32 of his last 33 attempts. Savovic (59-78,%^$.756), Darby (55-73, .753), Brown (86-120, .717) and Johnson (82-117,%^$.701) all have performed well at the charity stripe.%^$
%^$Savovic leads comeback at PSU
%^$Ohio State junior Boban Savovic scored 17 of his career high 23 points%^$in the second half to lead the Buckeyes to a remarkable 93-87 comeback%^$victory over Penn State. The Nittany Lions led Ohio State 51-31 at the%^$half behind the 19 points scored by senior Joe Crispin. Penn State%^$connected on 8-of-14 3-point attempts on the way to the 20-point edge.%^$The second half proved to be a different story as the Buckeyes scored 62%^$points to erase the PSU lead. The second half scoring effort was just a%^$point off the 63 total points scored by the Buckeyes in home wins over%^$both Wisconsin (63-58, 2/10/01) and Illinois (63-61, 2/22/01).%^$
%^$Noting the win over Penn State
%^$
Ohio State’s come-from-behind win over Penn State was thelargest%^$comeback victory since the Buckeyes overcame a 17-pointdeficit%^$(55-38/13:36 to play in second half) to win in overtime(90-84) vs. Duke%^$(12/29/78) at the ECAC Holiday Tournament heldat Madison Square Garden.%^$The Buckeyes were down 51-31 at thehalf to the Nittany Lions before%^$mounting the comeback. OSU wasdown by 18 points (68-50) with 11:05 to%^$play in the game beforegoing on a 31-13 run to tie the game at 81 with%^$1:49 to play. TheBuckeyes took a 90-81 lead with 32 seconds to play, a%^$29-pointswing, before finishing with a 93-87 victory.%^$ The 62 second-halfpoints are the most since the Buckeyes reached 62%^$in the firsthalf against Missouri-St. Louis Nov. 27, 1993. Ohio State%^$hasnever reached 60 points in a half vs. a Big Ten team and has doneso%^$only eight times in history. The last 60-plus half was a61-point%^$first-half effort Jan. 8, 1995 vs. George Mason. The 62points in the%^$second half ties for the fourth-highest scoringhalf in OSU history. The%^$OSU record for points in a half is 69(2nd) vs. Howard (12/14/91).%^$ Ohio State secured the No. 3 seedin the 2001 Big Ten Tournament. The%^$Buckeyes have been one of theTop 3 seeds in each of the last three%^$seasons. The Buckeyes havefinished in the Top 3 32 times in 89 years as%^$a member of the BigTen Conference.%^$ Ohio State has won 20 or more games in each ofthe last three seasons%^$following the victory over Penn State. TheBuckeyes last won 20 or more%^$in three-consecutive seasons from1990-92. The 1990-92 teams also%^$advanced to three-consecutiveNCAA Tournaments.%^$ The win in State College, Pa., evens theall-time series between Ohio%^$State and Penn State at 12 gamesapiece.%^$ Ohio State junior Boban Savovic scored a career high 23points vs. the%^$Nittany Lions. He scored 17 points in the secondhalf. His previous%^$career high was 17 points scored againstMichigan (1/18/01).%^$ Sophomore Brent Darby pitched in 15 pointsto give him six-consecutive%^$games in double figures. He hasscored 10 or more points 16 times in his%^$OSU career. Ohio Stateis 14-2 in those contests.%^$ Senior Ken Johnson recorded hiseighth career double-double with 17%^$points and 12 reboundsagainst the PSU.%^$ Johnson moved to No. 36 all time at Ohio Statein career scoring with%^$17 vs. the Nittany Lions. He has scored1,029 career points. He trails%^$No. 35 Jamie Skelton (1991-94),who finished his career with 1,055%^$points.%^$ Ohio State extendedits streak of consecutive games with at least one%^$3-point fieldgoal to 279. Boban Savovic extended the streak with a%^$3-pointerwith 13:35 to play in the first half.%^$ Johnson blocked three PennState shots to bring his career total to%^$437. He is now tied forNo. 4 all time in NCAA history with Lorenzo%^$Coleman of TennesseeTech. Alonzo Mourning of Georgetown is No. 3 with%^$453 careerblocks.%^$ Ohio State finished the regular season withseven-consecutive wins in%^$the Big Ten and five-consecutive winson the road. The Buckeyes has not%^$won five in a row away fromColumbus in the Big Ten since 1971. The%^$seven-game league winstreak is the longest since an eight-game streak%^$last season.%^$The 93 points scored by the Buckeyes tied the season-highoffensive%^$output (93-62) vs. Morehead State (12/16/00). OhioState last scored 93%^$points vs. a Big Ten team March 14, 1992 atMinnesota in a 94-63 Buckeye%^$win.%^$ The Buckeyes shot 35-of-62(.565) from the field, including a 23-of-38%^$(.605) effort in thesecond half. Five different Buckeyes took at least%^$10 shots inthe game.%^$
%^$Johnson 2nd in league to reach 400 blocks
%^$Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 437 blocks in his career after swatting%^$three at Penn State (3/3/01). Johnson is the career leader in Big Ten%^$history in 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%^$1998-99. His 115 this season rates No. 5.%^$
%^$
Big Ten Career Blocked Shots leaders%^$1. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998- 437%^$2. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-99 428%^$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. Ken Johnson, OSU 2000-01 118%^$6. Acie Earl, Iowa 1990-91 106%^$7. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-78 105%^$8. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-96 101%^$9. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998-99 100%^$10.Dean Garrett, IND 1987-88 99%^$
%^$Unranked Buckeyes win 4 vs. ranked teams for 1st time since 1989-90
%^$Ohio State, unranked in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today%^$polls defeated four of the last five ranked opponents faced. The last%^$time the Buckeyes defeated four ranked teams as an unranked squad was%^$during the 1989-90 season when OSU downed six ranked teams.%^$
%^$Johnson owns Top 3 spots in single season blocks
%^$With 118 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%^$rates No. 2.%^$
%^$Johnson in Top 10 in NCAA career blocks
%^$Ken Johnson sits atop the OSU and Big Ten career lists and is in the Top%^$10 in career blocks in NCAA history. His current total of 437 ranks No.%^$4 (tied) all-time in NCAA career blocks. Johnson is one of only 11%^$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). Johnson has averaged 3.5 blocks a game over his career. That%^$average rates among the Top 20 all time in NCAA history at No. 17.%^$
%^$
NCAA Career Blocks%^$No. Name Gms. Blks.%^$1. Adonal Foyle, Colgate 87 492%^$2. Tim Duncan, Wake Forest 128 481%^$3. Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown 120 453%^$4. Ken Johnson, Ohio St. 125 437%^$ Lorenzo Coleman, Tenn. Tech 113 437%^$6. Calvin Booth, Penn St. 114 428%^$7. Theo Ratliff, Wyoming 111 425%^$8. Etan Thomas, Syracuse 122 424%^$9. Rodney Blake, St. Joseph’s 116 419%^$10. Shaquille O’Neal, LSU 90 412%^$
%^$Brown enjoys best season as a Buckeye
%^$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 (149),%^$3-pointers made (37), free throws made (86), assists (120), steals (43),%^$points (421) and scoring average (14.5). His career scoring average is%^$8.8 ppg.%^$
%^$Buckeyes increase production in Big Ten Conference play
%^$Point production has increased during the Big Ten Conference portion of%^$the schedule for three regulars. Brian Brown is consistent with his%^$offensive output with 14.5 ppg. overall and 14.7 ppg. in conference%^$games. Ken Johnson averages 13.6 points in league games and 12.4 ppg.%^$overall. Brent Darby averages 10.6 ppg. in the league and 9.5 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 92 individual double-figure scoring efforts in 29%^$games this season. Brian Brown leads with 24 with Ken Johnson close%^$behind with 22.%^$
%^$Buckeyes earn 7th win over a defending national champion
%^$Ohio State has met the defending national champion 29 times in history%^$with a 7-22 record in those games following the win over Michigan State%^$(1/27/01). The Buckeyes have a 24-52 record against teams who%^$participated in the Final Four the previous year. The Buckeyes faced a%^$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%^$games in a stretch of 13 contests. Ohio State traveled for six of the%^$final eight games of the season, including two of the last three%^$regular-season games. OSU closed the season with eight wins in the final%^$10 games, including five consecutive wins on the road in the Big Ten.%^$
%^$Buckeyes start same four all season
%^$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 29 contests this season. Sophomores Brent%^$Darby (15 starts) and Sean Connolly (14 starts) have been the only%^$changes to the lineup this season.%^$
%^$Ohio State vs. ranked opponents
%^$The Buckeyes played the ninth ranked opponent of the season at home vs.%^$No. 3 Illinois. The Buckeyes are 123-192 vs. teams in the AP Top 25.%^$Five of the nine ranked teams OSU has faced this year have been in the%^$AP Top 10. Ohio State has played No. 21 Alabama, No. 16 Wisconsin,%^$twice, No. 14 Iowa, No. 3 Illinois, twice, 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%^$earlier this year.%^$
%^$Visitors struggle to win at VCA
%^$Ohio State has lost six home games in the 3-year history of Value City%^$Arena. The Buckeyes have a record of 43-6 all time at the VCA. In the%^$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%^$the 93-62 win over Morehead St. (12/16/00). O’Brien is 313-264 in 19%^$seasons as a head coach. He has a record of 78-47, including a record of%^$70-25 over the last three seasons with the Buckeyes. O’Brien spent 11%^$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%^$First and Second Rounds, the NCAA announced Dec. 7, 2000. Ohio State%^$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.%^$
%^$Robinson back in uniform
%^$Doylan Robinson (Akron, Ohio/Buchtel), a junior guard, was 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%^$and right hand. He is expected to recover fully. Robinson has played in%^$seven games to date for the Buckeyes after playing the three minutes vs.%^$Penn State (3/3/01). He is averaging 1.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 6.6%^$minutes a game. He resumed practicing and was first dressed for the Ohio%^$State vs. Indiana contest Jan. 31.%^$
%^$Johnson No. 1 on OSU career swat chart
%^$Ken Johnson has 118 blocks on the season for a career total of 437,%^$which places him first all-time at Ohio State in career rejections.%^$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%^$has an average of 4.1 blocks a game this season.%^$
%^$Johnson becomes 39th Buckeye to reach 1,000 career points
%^$Ken Johnson reached career point No. 1,000 as a Buckeye with 16 in the%^$home win over Illinois (2/22/01). He has scored 1,029 for a career%^$scoring average of 8.2 a contest in his four seasons at Ohio State. He%^$is averaging 12.4 points this season, the highest single-season scoring%^$average of his career.%^$
%^$Johnson paces OSU in the Big Ten
%^$Among Big Ten players, senior Ken Johnson rates in the Top 10 in four%^$statistical categories. He is the league’s best shot blocker with 4.1%^$rejections a game. With a .577 field goal shooting percentage, he rates%^$No. 4. He is fifth in defensive rebounds (5.1) and seventh in overall%^$rebounds per game (7.1). Sophomore Sean Connolly is the No. 5 3-point%^$shooter in the conference with a .416 shooting percentage. Junior Brian%^$Brown is No. 9 in 3-point shooting percentage (.402).%^$
%^$Northwestern, Iowa enter with freshman, sophomore coaches
%^$Northwestern head coach Bill Carmody will lead the Wildcats into his%^$first Big Ten Tournament as the NU head coach. He has compiled a record%^$of 11-18 over all and 3-13 in the Big Ten. The Wildcats begin postseason%^$as winners of two of the last three Big Ten games, including a 75-70 win%^$at Michigan. Carmody has a career record of 103-43, which includes a%^$92-25 record in four seasons at Princeton. Iowa head coach Steve Alford%^$is in his second season at the helm of the Hawkeyes. Iowa is 18-11%^$overall and 7-9 in the league. The Hawkeyes have lost seven of their%^$last eight games following the loss of leading scorer Luke Recker (18.1%^$ppg.), who is out with an injured knee.%^$
%^$The Iowa series
%^$The Hawkeyes have a 67-60 advantage over Ohio State in the%^$all-time series. Iowa is 43-20 in games played in Iowa City while the%^$Buckeyes are 39-24 in Columbus. Ohio State won the regular season%^$meeting with the Hawkeyes in Iowa City 69-68 (2/7/01). Ohio State is 1-0%^$in neutral site games. The last neutral site meeting was March 12, 1968%^$when the Buckeyes downed the Hawkeyes 85-81 in a Big Ten Conference%^$playoff game held in West Lafayette, Ind. Ohio State advanced to the%^$Final Four that season with wins over East Tennessee State and Kentucky.%^$North Carolina beat OSU at the Final Four but OSU rebounded to beat No.%^$1 Houston (89-85) in the third-place game.%^$
%^$The Buckeyes vs. Iowa
%^$Junior Brian Brown leads the Buckeye regulars in games played against%^$Iowa. Brown has scored 33 points (8.3 ppg.) in four meetings with the%^$Hawkeyes. Sophomore Sean Connolly scored 11 points in his first meeting%^$with Iowa earlier this season. Senior Ken Johnson is the leading%^$rebounder vs. the Hawkeyes with 5.7 rpg. in six career meetings.%^$
%^$The Northwestern series
%^$Ohio State leads the series 99-44 against Northwestern after%^$posting a pair of victories this season. The Buckeyes won in Columbus%^$73-56 (1/3/01) and in Evanston (69-57) this season. The Buckeyes own a%^$40-30 record in Evanston and a 59-14 mark in Columbus. Ohio State has a%^$five-game winning streak over the Wildcats.%^$
%^$The Buckeyes vs. Northwestern
%^$Sophomore Sean Connolly averaged 9.5 points in two meetings with%^$Northwestern this season. Brian Brown has a 9.0 scoring average in five%^$meetings with the Wildcats. Ken Johnson is the leading rebounder with a%^$5.2 rebounding average in six meetings vs. the Wildcats. Brown is 12-12%^$vs. Northwestern from the foul line. In two games vs. the Wildcats this%^$season, Brent Darby averaged 17 points and 4.0 rebounds. Johnson%^$averaged 12.5 points in the two meetings this year to go along with 5.0%^$rebounds and 6.0 blocks.%^$
%^$Leading the Buckeyes
%^$Junior Brian Brown leads the Buckeyes offensively with a scoring average%^$of 14.5 points per game. He leads the team in minutes played (33.6%^$mpg.). Sophomore Sean Connolly leads in 3-point shooting (42-101, .416).%^$Connolly is the team’s leading free throw shooter (38-46, .826). Ken%^$Johnson is the team’s leading rebounder with 7.1 a game. He is the most%^$accurate Buckeye from the field as well hitting 58 percent of his shots%^$(139-241). Brown leads in assists with 120 and steals, 43.%^$
%^$OSU opponents fare well in polls
%^$Six 2000-01 Buckeye opponents are rated among the Top 25 in the%^$Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Michigan State (2/3),%^$Illinois (4/4), Kansas (9/10), Syracuse (17/14), Wisconsin (23/21) and%^$Alabama (RV/25) are rated in the Top 25. Indiana and St. John’s are%^$receiving votes.%^$
%^$Johnson led nation in blocks, average fifth in NCAA
%^$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.%^$
%^$OSU vs. the Big Ten
%^$Ohio State won its 11th game of the Big Ten season at Penn State to%^$secure three-consecutive seasons with 11 or more wins in league play.%^$Ohio State won its 99th game vs. Northwestern with a sweep of the%^$regular season series, giving the Buckeyes the most wins vs. any other%^$Big Ten foe. Ohio State is in its 89th season of Big Ten play.%^$
%^$
Big Ten Series Records%^$ OSU/Opp.%^$Illinois 57-95%^$Indiana 66-93%^$Iowa 60-67%^$Michigan 79-67%^$Michigan State 45-52%^$Minnesota 71-50%^$Northwestern 99-44%^$Penn State 12-12%^$Purdue 68-77%^$Wisconsin 79-54%^$Totals 636-611%^$
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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 29-5 .853%^$1985-86 26-5 .839%^$1982-83 25-5 .833%^$1986-87 26-7 .788%^$1985-86 26-5 .781%^$
%^$OSU 3-pt FG streak extended to 279
%^$Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal over the%^$last 279 games. Boban Savovic extended the streak in the first half%^$against Penn State (3/3/01). 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 271-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.%^$
%^$A change in lineup
%^$Ohio State used its second starting lineup of the season with sophomore%^$Sean Connolly starting in place of sophomore Brent Darby against Eastern%^$Kentucky. According to STATS Inc., Ohio State was among just six schools%^$to use just one or two different starting lineups in 1999-00.%^$
%^$Johnson helps Olympic team prepare for Gold in Sydney
%^$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 weeklong camp. The camp ended with a nationally-televised (NBC)%^$contest Sept. 2 at the University of Hawaii Stan Sheriff Center.
