Men’s Basketball Travels to Michigan to Close Out The Regular Season – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2002
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Date March 2, 2002
Opponent Michigan
Site Crisler Arena (13,562)
Game Time 8 p.m. (EST)
TV ESPN Plus
Local TV WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent Trey Bender (Play-by-Play), Bill Hosket (Color)
Radio OSU Radio Network (64 stations)
Local Radio WBNS FM-97.1, AM-1460
Radio Talent Paul Keels (P-by-P), Ron Stokes (Color)
No. 18 Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (19-7, 10-5)
G 4 – Brent Darby, 6-1, Jr.
G 21 – Boban Savovic, 6-5, Sr.
G 13 – Brian Brown, 6-4, Sr.
C 14 – Velimir Radinovic, 7-0, So.
F 33 – Zach Williams, 6-7, So.
Michigan Wolverines
Probable Starters (10-16, 5-10)
G 1 – Avery Queen, 5-7, So.
G 0 – Leon Jones, 6-5, Sr.
G 45 – Chris Young, 6-9, Sr.
F 30 – LaVell Blanchard, 6-7, Jr.
F 21 – Bernard Robinson, Jr., 6-6, So.
Buckeyes Seek Share of League Title
Ohio State is a win away from securing at least a share of the 2002 Big Ten title and the programs 17th overall conference crown. The Buckeyes have won the Big Ten title 10 times outright and have shared the crown on six occasions. The Buckeyes last won the conference title in 2000, sharing the title with Michigan State. The last outright league crown came in 1992. Ohio State has finished among the Top 3 league teams in each of the last three seasons.
The Senior Class of 2002
Seniors Brian Brown, Will Dudley, Tim Martin and Boban Savovic will be making their final regular season appearances at Michigan. It is a class that has won 89 games, been to the 1999 Final Four, won the 2000 Big Ten Championship, enjoyed three 20-win seasons and gone to three-consecutive NCAA tournaments. Those four have helped the Buckeyes tie a school record for games won in four-consecutive seasons. The 1992 senior class also registered 89 victories from 1989-92. Brown and Savovic have a legitimate shot at becoming the first class in school history to be invited to four-consecutive NCAA tourneys.
O’Brien Nominated For National Coach of the Year
Ohio State basketball coach Jim O’Brien has been nominated by the Atlanta Tipoff Club for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Award. O’Brien is one of 20 finalists for the honor which will be presented April 5 in Atlanta, the site of this year’s Final Four. O’Brien was the NABC National Coach of the Year in 1999 and the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2001. Now in his fifth year at Ohio State, O’Brien has guided the 2002 Buckeyes, a team that was picked to finish eighth in the Big Ten, to a 19-6 record overall and a 10-5 mark in conference play. The Buckeyes are tied with Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin with one game to play. His record with the Buckeyes now stands at 97-56 for all games and his Big Ten record is 47-32, including a mark of 46-17 the past four years.
Ohio State vs. Michigan St. Recap
Marcus Taylor scored a career-high 32 points and Michigan State rallied to beat No. 17 Ohio State 81-76, creating a four-way tie for first place in the Big Ten. The victory was the fourth straight for the Spartans, who won for the first time in three trips to Value City Arena. Taylor was 10-of-15 from the field – including making all three of his 3-point attempts – and was 9-of-12 at the line. He also had three assists. Adam Ballinger added 12 points for the Spartans, who shot 59 percent for the game. Brian Brown scored 24 points, Boban Savovic had 17 and reserve Sean Connolly added 11 for Ohio State, which had won its first seven conference home games.
Noting the Michigan State Game
Ohio State has compiled a 58-8 at Value City Arena since itopened for the 1998-99 season. The Buckeyes are 15-2 overall and7-1 in the Big Ten at home this season. The 15 wins at home tiesthe record for wins in a season. The last time the Buckeyes won 15games at home was during the 1999-00 season when they went 15-2.OSU has won 15 games at home four times. With his 3-point fieldgoal at 12:22 in the first half, Boban Savovic moved into the No. 5spot for career 3-pointers made. He has 113 in his career. He movespast Chris Jent (1989-92) with 112. Savovic opened the game byhitting his first five shots, including two 3-point baskets. BrianBrown is on pace to become just the third Buckeye to score 1,300points (he has 1,266), grab 400 rebounds (427), hand out 350assists (353) and record 100 steals (118). The only other Buckeyesto accomplish this are Kelvin Ransey (1,934 points, 417 rebounds,516 assists and 169 steals) and Jim Jackson (1,785 points, 552rebounds, 372 assists and 147 steals). Brown has scored indouble-digits in 24-of-26 games this season. The Buckeyes ended thefirst half on a 7-0 run with five of those points coming from BrianBrown. OSU had a 36-31 lead at the half. Ohio State is 16-3 whenleading at the half. The senior class (Brian Brown, Boban Savovic,Will Dudley and Tim Martin) is the most successful class (currentlytied at 89 victories with the 1992 class) in Ohio State basketballhistory. The 2002 senior class has recorded 89 wins and could bethe first class to make four trips to the NCAA Tournament. With his32 point-performance, Michigan State guard Marcus Taylor is thefirst opposition player to score 30 points in a game at Value CityArena. This set the record for points by an opponent in VCA. TheSpartans shot 26-of-44 from the field for a shooting percentage of.591, which breaks the Value City Arena record for shootingpercentage for an opponent. The previous record was .533 (24-45) byIowa (1/12/99). The win was Michigan State’s first at Value CityArena.
Special “K” Next for Brown
Ohio State senior guard Brian Brown has 1,266 career points to rank 21st in OSU scoring annals. The No. 20 spot belongs to Clark Kellogg who scored 1,285 points in three years (1980-82) as a Buckeye. Also within reach is Jim Cleamons (1969-71) at the No. 19 spot (1,335 points).
Brown played well earlier this week in a home loss to Michigan State. He scored 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 accuracy from 3-point range. He also knocked down all six of his foul shots in addition to handing out six assists.
Ohio State Back in Both Polls
For the sixth-consecutive week, Ohio State is ranked in the Top 25 in both the ESPN/USA Today Coaches and the Associated Press polls. The Buckeyes are 17th in the latest Coaches poll (up one from last week) and 18th in the AP poll (also up one from last week) in the wire service voting.
Dials on Pace to Set OSU Freshman Record
Ohio State freshman Terence Dials hit 2-of-4 field goal attempts against Michigan State and is now shooting .636 from the field. The 6-9 center is well on his way to setting an Ohio State freshman record for field goal percentage. Jermaine Tate is the current record holder with a .569 (115-202) shooting percentage as a freshman in 1996.
Williams, Brown Among Big Ten Marksmanship Leaders
Sophomore forward Zach Williams (4-of-7 against Purdue) is third in the Big Ten in field goal percentage with a mark of .588 (104 of 177) in 26 games. Senior guard Brian Brown has moved up three spots to 12th with a .493 figure on 142-of-288 shooting.
Ohio State 11-2 at VCA vs. Ranked Teams
Ohio State has faced 13 ranked opponents at Value City Arena since the facility opened for the start of the 1998-99 season. Ohio State is 4-1 against Top 10 teams, which includes a 72-62 victory over No. 9 Iowa on Jan. 5 of this year. OSU is 11-1 vs. ranked Big Ten squads at VCA.
A Look at the Wolverines
Michigan is 10-16 overall and 5-10 in the Big Ten under first year head coach Tommy Amaker. The Wolverines started the league season with a 5-6 record but have dropped the last four games, three on the road to Purdue, Iowa and most recently to Wisconsin.
The Buckeyes vs. Michigan
Ohio State seniors are 5-1 vs. the Wolverines with Boban Savovic and Brian Brown leading the way for the Buckeyes. Savovic has averaged 10.4 points in five career games vs. Michigan. He also has connected on 57.7 percent (15-26) of his shots from the field against Michigan. Brown averages 9.3 points in the six games and has hit 6-of-12 3-pointers vs. the Wolverines.
Series Information
Ohio State leads the all-time series against the Wolverines 80-67, which includes a 69-47 win in Columbus earlier this season. The Buckeyes have a 32-41 record in Ann Arbor and a 47-25 record in Columbus. The squads each have a neutral-site win in the series. Ranked Ohio State teams are 25-4 against Michigan, including a 13-3 record in Ann Arbor. Ohio State has won the last five meetings with Michigan, including an 88-67 victory Feb. 6, 2000 in Ann Arbor.
Michigan Coach Tommy Amaker
Tommy Amaker is in his first season at Michigan after four successful years as head coach at Seton Hall, where he compiled a 68-55 record. Amaker is 10-16 in his first season in Ann Arbor.
O’Brien 27-5 in VCA vs. Conference Foes
In four seasons at Value City Arena, Jim O’Brien and the Buckeyes have a combined record of 27-5 (.843) in Big Ten play. Indiana, Iowa (2), Penn State and Michigan State are the only Big Ten teams with victories at VCA. The Buckeyes are 31-3 (.912) against non-conference opponents at VCA. Ohio State was 7-0 in 1998-99, 8-1 in 1999-00 and 8-1 in 2000-01 in non-Big Ten home games. The Buckeyes finished 15-2 at home this year. Non-conference home losses at VCA have come to Notre Dame (59-57) in the 1999 Preseason NIT (11/16), Kansas (69-68) Dec. 23, 2000 and Pittsburgh Dec. 19, 2001 (62-55). O’Brien is 38-5 in non-conference home games in five seasons at Ohio State, which includes a 7-2 record his first season at St. John Arena.
Value City Arena Serves Buckeyes Well
Ohio State has played 66 home games at Value City Arena since the facility opened for the 1998-99 season. The Buckeyes are 58-8 (.879) at Value City Arena, including a 15-2 mark this year. The Buckeyes finished 7-1 at home this year in Big Ten play.
Buckeyes Dialing In From Long Distance
Boban Savovic knocked down three 3-pointers against Michigan State and now has 113 for his career, moving him past Chris Jent (112, 1989-92) into the Top 5. Savovic has hit 48 of 120 shots from beyond the arc this year.
Brian Brown, meanwhile, like Savovic a senior, has 99 career treys and is ninth in OSU annals. He has made 26 of 69 thus far in 2002, including four vs. Michigan State.
Junior guard Brent Darby is the latest Buckeye to crack the Top 10 list for three pointers. Darby had four treys against Purdue, giving him 89 during his career and moving him into a tie with Damon Stringer for the 10th spot.
Another junior, Sean Connolly, has made 140-of-355 career 3-pointers, which includes a 64-of-165 (.386) long-range shooting effort as a freshman at Providence. At Ohio State, Connolly has connected on 76-of-190 treys, including 31 of 82 this year. He was 3-of-9 against Michigan State.
Buckeyes Limit Foes’ Long-Range Shooting
Fifteen of the 26 teams Ohio State has played this season have been held below 30 percent shooting from 3-point range. Indiana became the latest casualty, converting just 6 of 23 3-pointers against the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes have held six opponents under 18 percent shooting from long range.
Opponent Pct. 3FG-A Winthrop 16.7 3-18 N.C. State 14.8 4-27 UNC-Wilmington 15.4 2-13 Santa Clara 25.0 4-16 at Louisville 14.3 4-28 Pittsburgh 26.3 5-19 Eastern Illinois 20.0 3-15 UNC-Greensboro 26.7 4-15 Massachusetts 29.4 5-17 Northwestern 25.0 5-20 Michigan 20.0 4-20 Illinois 17.6 3-17 Wisconsin 17.4 4-23 Michigan State 27.3 3-11 Indiana 26.0 6-23
Brown Now Eighth in Career Assists
Brian Brown passed former teammate Scoonie Penn on the Ohio State career assists list with five against IUPUI earlier this season. Brown is now eighth all-time with 353 assists, including six against Michigan State. Jim Jackson (1990-92) is seventh all-time with 372.
Brown 2nd Among Big Ten Scoring Leaders
With 65 points in the last three games, Brian Brown has moved up to sixth in Big Ten scoring. In Big Ten games only, the 6-4 senior is second in scoring at 16.5 points per game, trailing only Purdue’s Willie Deane (17.5).
Brent Darby is 16th in scoring (12.8) for all games and 10th in Big Ten games (13.5).
Ohio State Tops Big Ten in Several Areas
Ohio State ranks at, or near, the top of several Big Ten statistical categories. The Buckeyes lead the league in field goal percentage (.485) and rebounding defense (28.8). Ohio State is second in scoring margin (+9.8), 3-point field goal pct. defense (.312) and turnover margin (+1.35).
Noting the Buckeyes …
2 – Brandon Fuss-Cheatham: Has played in 24 games … spells Brent Darby at point … quick, excellent ball handler … has averaged just under 10 minutes a game off the bench this season for the Buckeyes.
3 – Sean Connolly: First guard off the bench, contributing over 20 minutes a game … has made 18-of-40 3-point attempts in last eight contests … eight double figure games, including three of last four, this season with season-high 17 at Minnesota … has 43 assists and 13 steals this year … big steal late at Iowa … career 81 percent shooter from the foul line (124-154) … has played in all 57 games since joining the OSU roster at the start of the 2000-01 season … his 45 percent shooting pct. this season is the highest single-season pct. of his career … has more 3 pointers made (140) in his career than FTs (124).
4 – Brent Darby: Bothered for three games by sore lower back (muscular) and by illness vs. Michigan State … held to 4 points at Indiana, but did have 7 rebounds … averaged 18 points in the 5 games prior to Indiana … bounced back with 15 points against Purdue … has scored 10 or more points in 18 games this season … notched a career-high 26 points against Northwestern (Feb. 2) … has played 30 or more minutes in 16 games this season including a career-high 41 minutes in the overtime loss to Wisconsin … 32 minutes at Iowa, despite painful back … team leader from the foul line (99-126, .786) … in last 8 games has connected on 18-of-41 3-pointers (.439) … career 77 pct. shooter from the foul line (172-223) … had a string of three-consecutive 20-point games earlier this season … is playing a career-high 30 minutes a game as a junior … scored four field goals vs. Michigan State to reach 100 for the year, a single season career high … has 70 or more assists in each of his last two seasons … his 12.8 points a game, 74 assists and 30 steals are single-season highs.
13 – Brian Brown: Has started 92-consecutive games for the Buckeyes … has led the Buckeyes in scoring each of the last three games and 13 times this year … shooting 49 percent from the field this season … has been in double digits in last 21 games and in 24-of-26 this season with 4 games with 20 or more points … selected by the NABC to the District 10 Second Team … Wooden Award Candidate … two-time OSU captain … Has recorded 100 or more rebounds in each of the last three seasons … has posted back-to-back seasons with 400 or more points … his 123 games played ranks tied for 6th in Ohio State history … needs one made 3 pointer to reach 100 for his career … only seven Buckeyes have connected on 100 3-pointers in their careers … is a career 72 percent shooter from the foul line … has 70 or more assists in each of the last three seasons … his 15.2 points a game is the highest single-season scoring average of his career … could become on the 3rd Buckeye to score 1,300 (1,266) points, grab 400 (427) rebounds, hand out 350 (353) assists and record 100 (118) steals.
14 – Velimir Radinovic: Has started the past 22 games … double figure minutes in 20-of-26 games … shooting 53 percent from the field (35-66) … second on the team with 12 blocks … season high 10 points in home loss to Pittsburgh (12/19/01) … seven rebounds at Michigan State … seven second-half points at Iowa … has more than doubled his minutes per game (5.9/12.2), rebounds (27/64) and points (50/92) from his freshman year to this season.
21 – Boban Savovic: Has played in 107 games and made 57 starts as a Buckeye … leads team from 3-point range (48-120, .400) … tops Buckeyes in assists with 100 … has recorded five or more assists in 12 games this season … has led team in assists in 14 games while owning game-high honors nine times … tops team in steals with 34 and has 102 for his career … strong, quick hands … fine defender and solid all-around performer … has had his best season at Ohio State in FGs made (95), 3-PTs made (48), FTs made (66) and steals (34) … also has highest scoring average of career with 11.7 points a game as a senior … reached 100 assists for the second-consecutive year with six vs. Michigan St. (2/26).
23 – Ryan Heflin: Shooting 71.4 percent from the field in seven appearances (5-7) this season … career-high seven points in six minutes vs. Santa Clara (12/12/01) … team barber, often cuts teammates’ hair the day before games … missed Indiana trip with the flu.
24 – Shaun Smith: Perfect from the field this year (3-3) in seven appearances … has command of OSU offense … runs practice squad against starters in practice … would rather look to make assists than score in games.
33 – Zach Williams: One of the hardest workers on the squad … often draws opponent’s top offensive threat along the front line … has the ability to score over bigger players with his high arcing floater … leads starters in field goal percentage (104-177, .588) and rebounding (5.7 rpg.) … has scored 10 or more points in 13 games this year … has started 56 of 57 career games … has averaged nearly 55 percent accuracy from the field in two seasons as a Buckeye … has upped his rebounding average from 3.8 as a freshman to 5.7 this year … has led team in rebounds 14 times with game-high honors eight times … his scoring is up as well from 6.6 to 10.0 points a contest over the last two seasons.
34 – Terence Dials: Has played double figure minutes in 20-of-26 games … one of the top freshmen in the Big Ten … shooting 64 percent from the field this season (63-99) … on pace to set Ohio State freshman record for shooting percentage … leads the team in blocked shots with 17 … has collected 59 rebounds in last 12 games (4.9) … career-high 13 caroms vs. Louisville (12/15/01) … has been a factor in OSU’s Big Ten success … has led Buckeyes in rebounding seven times with game high honors five times.
43 – Will Dudley: Started first four games of the season … double figure minutes in 10 games this year … shooting 51 percent (25-49) on the season … 16-of-34 rebounds have come on the offensive end of the floor this year … 101 career games at Ohio State … career 55 pct. shooter from the field (126-228) … two boards against Purdue give him an even 200 for his career … 31 career blocks are most on team … good jump hook … skillful under the basket … has connected on over 51 percent from the field in all four years as a Buckeye … reached the 300-point and 200-rebound mark in his career this season … 90 of his 200 career rebounds have been recorded on the offensive end of the court.
44 – Tim Martin: Tied a career-high with seven rebounds against Northwestern … has played in all 26 games with one start this season (Northwestern, Jan. 12) … 27-of-58 rebounds this year have come on the offensive end of the court … gives Buckeyes added strength in the middle … defensive presence at Iowa was a key factor in OSU win … Big Ten season-high 18 minutes vs. the Hawkeyes … competitive and great team player … has played in 57 career games as a Buckeye since joining the team as a walkon in 1999-00 … is a career 60 percent shooter from the field (55-92) … has recorded a single-season high 14 steals this season as a reserve forward.
54 – Matt Marinchick: Has played in nine games as a redshirt freshman for Ohio State … hit all four foul shots in just one minute of action in home win over Michigan.
Next Up For the Buckeyes
Ohio State travels to the 2002 Big Ten Tournament March 7-10 in Indianapolis.
OSU Hoping For a 4th-Consecutive NCAA Trip and 20-win Season
The Buckeyes have been to 21 NCAA tournaments in the history of the program, including the past three. No Ohio State coach has ever led four-consecutive teams to the NCAA tournament. The Buckeyes have made three-consecutive trips four times (1944-46, 1960-62, 1990-92 and 1999-01). Ohio State also has a streak of three-consecutive 20-win seasons. The only time the program enjoyed four-consecutive 20-win campaigns occurred from 1960-63 with 25, 27, 26 and 20 wins, respectively. Ohio State won the national championship in 1960 and won four of five-consecutive Big Ten titles during that span. Jim O’Brien is just one win away from his fourth-consecutive 20-win season.
