Post Game Notes From Ohio State vs. Illinois – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 9, 2002
Recap| Box Score
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien won his 100th career game atOhio State Saturday against Illinois (94-88) in the semifinals ofthe 2002 Big Ten Tournament. O’Brien is 100-56 in his five-yearcareer with the Buckeyes with a 22-7 record this season. O’Brien is335-273 in his 20-year coaching career. He will take his 11th teamto postseason play this year, his seventh to the NCAA tournament.The Buckeyes will set an Ohio State record with itsfourth-consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament this season. OhioState is looking to win three games in three consecutive days forthe first time since downing Alabama-Birmingham, North CarolinaState and Mississippi from Dec. 21-23, 1999 to claim the San JuanShootout. The Buckeyes have won three-consecutive games againstIllinois and four of the last five. The Buckeyes advance to thechampionship game of the Big Ten tournament for the first time inthe five-year history of the event. The Buckeyes are 3-4 all timein the event. Four of the five Ohio State starters reached doublefigures in scoring against the Illini. Senior Brian Brown scored acareer-high 27 points. He connected on 6-of-12 shots from thefield, including a 3-of-5 effort from 3-point range. After missinghis first foul shot of the game, he then knocked down12-consecutive free throws to set a career high for made foul shotsin a game. Brent Darby reached the 20-point mark for the fifth timethis season with 23 against the Illini. He made 8-of-12 shots fromthe field, including a 2-of-4 3-points and 5-of-7 free throws. Thisseason, Ohio State is 19-3 when leading at the half, 20-1 whenleading with 5:00 remaining in the game, 18-3 when outreboundingits opponent, 18-2 when shooting a higher percentage vs. itsopponent, and 18-4 when scoring 70 or more points. Ohio State is18-12 vs. Illinois when the Buckeyes are ranked among the Top 25 inthe Associate Press Poll, including both meetings this season.Individually, sophomore Zach Williams set an OSU record with 13total rebounds and nine defensive caroms in a Big Ten tournamentgame…the 13 rebounds also were a career high for Williams…BrianBrown’s three made 3-pointers tied an OSU Big Ten tournamentrecord…his 12 made and 13 attempted free throws were OSUtournament records. As a team, the 56.6 (30-53) shootingpercentage, 30 (tie) made field goals and 27 (tie) made freethrows, set a OSU Big Ten tournament records. The Buckeyes improvedto 4-1 on the year against ranked opponents. Wins were over No. 9Iowa (72-62, Jan. 5), No. 25 Indiana (73-67, Jan. 19), No. 12Illinois (78-67, Jan. 29) and No. 10 Illinois (94-88, March 9). Theloss was to No. 23 Indiana (63-57, Feb. 20).
