Johnson Tabbed Buckeye MVP at Annual Banquet – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 19, 2001
COLUMBUS, Ohio–Jim O’Brien, Ohio State head men’s basketball coach, announced today the annual awards for the 2000-01 basketball team during its annual banquet held this year at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe.
Ken Johnson (Sr., Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) was awarded the Jerry Lucas Most Valuable Player Award, Brian Brown (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) claimed the Fred R. Taylor Award for academic excellence and the Most Improved Player award. Junior Tim Martin (Dayton, Ohio/Dunbar) earned the John Havlicek Award as the team’s most inspirational player.
Johnson claimed the team MVP, after sharing the honor with Scoonie Penn, George Reese and Michael Redd in 1999-00.
In four seasons as a Buckeye, Johnson recorded a Big Ten and OSU career record 444 blocked shots. His 125 rejections as a senior are the second most in a single season at Ohio State. He sent back 161 shots as a junior to set both the Big Ten and OSU single-season record. His career total also rates No. 4 all-time in NCAA history behind Adonal Foyle (Colgate-492), Tim Duncan (Wake Forest-481) and Alonzo Mourning (Georgetown-453).
Though known for his defensive prowess, Johnson improved dramatically on the offensive end during his final season as a Buckeye. He averaged a career-high 12.5 points while hitting 58 percent of his shots from the field (145-251). He made 47 more field goals as a senior than during any of his previous three seasons while attempting 63 more shots.
Aside from his blocked shot records, Johnson also placed his name in several other OSU career statistical categories. He became the 39th player in Ohio State history to reach 1,000 career points. With 1,055 points, he finished tied for the No. 35 spot all-time in career scoring.
His .540 (416-771) career-shooting percentage ranks No. 6 all-time with his .578 senior shooting percentage rating No. 10 for a single season at Ohio State. His 127 games played is tied for No. 2 while his 123 starts rank third.
Johnson finished his career with 739 career rebounds, which rates No. 8 all-time in OSU history.
Brown, 2000-01 co-captain with Johnson, also had his best season as a Buckeye. He led the team in scoring (14.5 ppg.), minutes (1,048), field goals/attempted (158/354), assists (127) and steals (43).
He tied two Buckeye single-game records when he connected on all nine field goals attempted and all five 3-point field goals in a 90-65 win over Florida State at the Great Alaska Shootout (11/23/00).
With 40 made 3-pointers as a junior, he moved to No. 10 all-time in career 3-pointers made with 73.
Martin transferred to Ohio State following a brief career at Kent State. He sat out the 1999-00 Ohio State season as a walkon, saw action in all 31 games as a junior with the Buckeyes and made a significant contribution as a scholarship player.
He averaged nearly 12 minutes a game and connected on 68 percent of his shots (32-47) while grabbing 3.0 rebounds a contest.
Buckeyes receive watches, other honors
OSU players and staff also received their 2001 NCAA Tournament watches.
Ken Johnson and senior managers Ryan Lidke, Jim Cook and Matt Topolosky each received a framed jersey.
Johnson and Brown each received a plaque honoring their All-Big Ten Conference awards earned in 2000-01.
Johnson receives 2 basketballs for milestones
Ken Johnson received a commemorative ball for reaching 1,000 career points at Ohio State. In four seasons as a Buckeye, he scored 1,055 points. He is one of just 39 Ohio State players to reach 1,000 career points.
He also received a ball for setting the Big Ten career blocked shot record (444).
Johnson, Brown receives Big Ten Awards
Ken Johnson received his Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award along with his First Team All-Big Ten honor. Johnson won the defensive honor in each of the last two seasons.
Brian Brown was presented with his Third Team All-Big Ten honor.
O’Brien owns 2nd highest winning percentage in Big Ten games
Head coach Jim O’Brien has a record of 37-27 in Big Ten regular-season games for a winning percentage of .578. That record includes a 1-15 record in his first year at Ohio State in 1997-98. Since that first season, he has compiled a mark of 36-12 (.750) with three Top 3 finishes and a co-Big Ten Championship in 2000. O’Brien’s overall winning percentage in the Big Ten is second at OSU only to legendary coach Fred Taylor, who finished his career with a 158-102 league record (.608), seven Big Ten titles, a national championship (1960) and a pair of runner-up finishes (1961-62).
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 20-11 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.
Buckeyes reach 11 wins in Big Ten for 3rd-consecutive season
The win over Penn State (3/3/01) 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 had not put together three-consecutive years with 11 or more wins in the league since the 1962-64 seasons. The Buckeyes were then in the final three seasons of a five-year stretch of winning the Big Ten Conference title. Ohio State played in its 21st NCAA Tournament and third-consecutive in 2001. 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.
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 313-266 in 19 seasons as a head coach. He is 78-49, including a record of 70-27 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.
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 finished its 89th season of Big Ten play.
Big Ten Series Records OSU/Opp. Illinois 57-95 Indiana 66-93 Iowa 60-68 Michigan 79-67 Michigan State 45-52 Minnesota 71-50 Northwestern 99-44 Penn State 12-12 Purdue 68-77 Wisconsin 79-54 Totals 636-612
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 281
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal over the last 281 games. Boban Savovic extended the streak in the first half against Utah State (3/15/01). 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 273-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.
2000-01 Season Facts
(Team)
3, Consecutive years OSU has qualified for the NCAA Tournament, a first since 1990-92.
10, Ties for 10th the number of 3-point field goals made in a game by an OSU team (twice in 2000-01 vs. FSU (11/23/00) and Iowa (2/7/01).
20, Number of games won by the Buckeyes marking the third-consecutive year OSU reached 20 victories.
21, Number of NCAA Tournaments OSU has played in all-time.
25, Number of 3-point field goal attempts vs. Valparaiso (11/25/00) to tie for No. 4 all- time attempts in a single game.
160, Number of blocks, the fourth most in OSU history.
169, Second most 3-point field goals made in a season by an OSU team.
281, Number of consecutive games in which the Buckeyes have connected on at least one 3-point field goal.
443, The fourth most 3-pointers attempted in a season by an OSU team.
(Individual)
.540, Career field goal shooting percentage (416-771) by Ken Johnson, which is tied for No. 6 all time at Ohio State.
.578, Single-season shooting percentage by Ken Johnson, 10th best in OSU history.
1.000, OSU record field goal percentage (9-9) tied by Brian Brown vs. Florida State (11/23/00).
1.000 (2), OSU record 3-point field goal percentage (5-5) tied by Brian Brown vs. Florida State (11/23/00).
3, Number of seasons Ken Johnson has blocked 100 or more shots.
4, Position held in NCAA history by Ken Johnson in career blocks.
7, Number of career games Ken Johnson has blocked eight or more shots.
25, Consecutive made free throws by Sean Connolly, second best streak in OSU history.
31, Games started by freshman Zach Williams, the most by a rookie since Michael Redd started 30 in 1997-98.
39, Number of Buckeyes to score 1,000 or more points in a career. Ken Johnson completed his career tied for No. 35 in career scoring with Jamie Skelton (1991-94).
45, 3-point field goals made by Sean Connolly, 10th most by an OSU player.
73, Career made 3-pointers made by Brian Brown, 10th most in OSU history.
123, Career games started by Ken Johnson, third most in OSU history.
125, Blocks by Ken Johnson, second highest single-season total in OSU history.
127, Career games played by Ken Johnson, tied for second most in OSU history with Jamaal Brown (1989-92).
444, Ken Johnson’s Ohio State and Big Ten career record for blocked shots.
739, Career rebounds credited to Ken Johnson, 8th most in Ohio State history.
1,055, Career points scored by Ken Johnson.
