Men’s Basketball Answer Challenge to Finish 6-0 in Europe – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sept. 3, 2001
AMSTERDAM-The Ohio State men’s basketball team will return to Columbus late Tuesday with a 6-0 record after winning the final game of the team’s 16-day tour of Europe.
The Buckeyes faced its best opponent Monday in Almere, The Netherlands against the Omniworld Basketball Club, a Division “A” team in Europe. The game was the most physical of the six games played by the Buckeyes but Ohio State used its experience at the guard position to chisel a 65-57 victory.
Boban Savovic, a senior veteran of international play from Yugoslavia, used his experience with the European style of play to score 16 points against Omniworld to lead the Buckeyes. Sophomore Zach Williams recorded his second-consecutive double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Brent Darby contributed 13 points and seven assists.
Ohio State not only had to overcome one of the better teams in northern Europe but also a small group of Omniworld fans who spent the entire game beating constantly on drums and blowing horns, making it nearly impossible for Jim O’Brien, OSU head coach, to communicate with his players.
“I have never been involved with anything like this in my career in basketball,” O’Brien said. “I can’t imagine why they would allow this to go on.”
Despite the distractions off the court, the Buckeyes built a 35-24 led at the half with defense and quickness.
Attempts to get the Ohio State big men involved were thwarted by elder and more physical Omniworld post players. The Buckeye guards were able to counter the lack of inside scoring by driving the lane for layups.
The Buckeyes connected on 28-of-60 shots from the field while holding Omniworld to just 18-of-57 shooting. Ohio State connected on 4-of-10 3-pointers while Omniworld made 7-of-26 long-range shots.
O’Brien said the 6-0 record was a goal reached by the Buckeyes.
“This was the best team we have played over here,” O’Brien said of the final victory. “It was as physical a game as we have been involved with in quite awhile.
“We are ready to come home,” he said. “This has been a great trip. The basketball has been good and the overall experience has been a positive for our guys. They were able to see and do some things they would normally not have the chance to do. It was a great opportunity for all of us.”
Savovic said the games were especially beneficial to the young Buckeye inside players. “We came here expecting to win all our games and we did,” Savovic said. “This will help us, especially the big guys. We played six physical games, which will help us once the Big Ten season arrives.
“This trip will help with our confidence as well,” he said. “When the season starts we will already be 6-0.”
Note: In addition to the nearly 80 people traveling along with the Buckeyes in Europe, Ohio State had another small cheering section in the stands against Omniworld. Lynn Fogwell, who earned a graduate degree from Ohio State in industrial and systems technology in 1985, drove his family from Antwerp, Belgium to Almere, The Netherlands, to watch the Buckeyes. The trip and time spent looking for the arena took about four hours.
The Fogwell’s were rewarded for their effort with autographs and several Ohio State pins the team had for gift-exchanges with the opponents.
