O’Brien Named As Finalist For Naismith Award – Ohio State Buckeyes

2/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Feb. 22, 2002

%^$COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Atlanta Tipoff Club has named Ohio State basketball coach Jim O’Brien as a finalist for the 2002 Naismith College Coach of the Year Award.%^$

%^$O’Brien, who has guided the Buckeyes to an 18-6 record this year, is one of 20 contenders for the award which will be presented April 5 in Atlanta, the site of this year’s Final Four.%^$

%^$O’Brien was the NABC Co-National Coach of the Year and the Clair Bee National Coach of the Year in 1999. He was Big Ten Coach of the Year in both ’99 and 2001 and is a leading candidate for that award again this season.%^$

%^$Under O’Brien’s guidance, Ohio State is closing in on its fourth consecutive 20-wins season and a fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The latter would be a first in school history.