Ohio State and Michigan to Meet on the Hardcourt – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2003
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Opponent Michigan
Site Value City Arena (19,200)
Game Time 8 p.m. (EST)
TV ESPN Plus
Local TV WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent Tom Hamilton (P-by-P), Bill Hosket (Color)
Radio OSU Radio Network (63 stations)
Local Radio WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent Paul Keels (P-by-P), Ron Stokes (Color)
Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (8-5, 1-1)
G 4 – Brent Darby, 6-1, Sr.
G 3 – Sean Connolly, 6-5, Sr.
C 14 – Velimir Radinovic, 7-0, Jr.
F 50 – Shun Jenkins, 6-6, Jr.
F 33 – Zach Williams, 6-7, Jr.
Michigan Wolverines
Probable Starters (9-6, 2-0)
G 4 – Daniel Horton, 6-3, Fr.
G 2 – Lester Abram, 6-6, Fr.
C 25 – Graham Brown, 6-9, Fr.
F 21 – Bernard Robinson, Jr., 6-6, Jr.
F 30 – LaVell Blanchard, 6-7, Sr.
Darby Reaches 1,000 Points vs. Indiana, Connolly Closing
Senior guard Brent Darby became the 41st player at Ohio State to score 1,000 career points during his 28-point effort against Indiana (1/11). Darby has 1,027 career points and is No. 38 all-time on the Ohio State scoring chart. Sean Connolly has scored 941 career points, which includes 330 while a freshman at Providence. At least one player has reached 1,000 points in each of the last five years at Ohio State. Michael Redd (5th/1,879) and Jason Singleton (40th/1,022) reached 1,000 in 1999 followed by Scoonie Penn (34th/1,076) in 2000, Ken Johnson (36th/1,055) in 2001 and Brian Brown (19th/1,384) in 2002. Darby, Connolly Among Best 3-Point Shooters in Buckeye History
Sean Connolly has made 110 of 276 (.399) career 3-pointers in three seasons as a Buckeye. He is No. 2 all-time in 3-point shooting percentage among players with more than 200 career attempts. He is No. 8 in made and No. 10 in attempts as well. Senior Brent Darby is No. 3 in 3-point shooting percentage (.392) and is No. 4 in made (130) and No. 5 in attempted (332) 3-pointers.
Buckeyes 13-0 After Back-to-Back Defeats in Last Five Years
Since Ohio State downed Wisconsin late in the 1997-98 season, the Buckeyes have not lost three-consecutive games under head coach Jim O’Brien. With the win over Indiana Jan. 11, the Buckeyes have responded with victories 13 times following back-to-back losses.
Value City Arena Serves Buckeyes Well
The Buckeyes began their fifth season in Value City Arena in the 2002-03 home opener against Coppin State. Ohio State is 66-9 (.880) in games played on the home floor since the building opened for the start of the 1998-99 campaign.
Buckeyes Fare Well vs. the Ranked at Value City Arena
No. 15 Indiana (W 81-69) was the 15th opponent to visit Value City Arena with an AP national ranking since the facility opened in 1998. Ohio State has won 12 of 15 previous games against ranked foes at home under head coach Jim O’Brien at Value City Arena. The Buckeyes were 4-1 in 1998-99, 1-0 in 1999-00, 3-1 in 2000-01 and 3-0 in 2001-02 against ranked teams at home. No. 9 Kansas (2000), No. 12 Iowa (1999) and No. 24 Louisville (2003) are the only ranked teams to claim victory at VCA.
Fans Boost Buckeye Record in Sellouts
Value City Arena has been sold out for 25 games in the last five years since the building opened in 1998. The Buckeyes have won 21 of those games for a winning percentage of .840 when the VCA is sold out. Iowa, Kansas, Indiana and Michigan State are the only teams to overcome the home crowd and the Buckeyes in sold out games at VCA. Jim O’Brien led Ohio State to a 1-0 record in 1998-99, a 11-1 mark in 1999-00, a 3-2 effort in 2000-01 and a 5-1 record in 2001-02 in sold out games at VCA. Ohio State is 1-0 this season.
Buckeyes 15 Games Up on UM in Series
Ohio State has won 82 games in the all-time series against Michigan, including the last seven. The Buckeyes won all three contests a year ago, including an 84-75 victory in Ann Arbor to clinch a share of the Big Ten regular season title and a 75-68 triumph six days later in Ohio State’s first game of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. Michigan has won 67 games in the series. The Buckeyes are 47-25 against the Wolverines in Columbus and 33-41 in Ann Arbor. The teams have met three times on neutral courts with the Buckeyes winning two of those games. A win by the Buckeyes would tie the Ohio State record for consecutive wins against Michigan at eight games. That mark was set between 1967-72.
Darby, Dials in Double Digits vs. Michigan
Sophomore Terence Dials and senior Brent Darby both average 10 or more points in games against the Wolverines. Darby is the top Buckeye scorer against UM with 10.8 points per game in five career contests against UM. Dials, in just two games, averages 10.3 ppg. Junior Zach Williams leads the Buckeyes with 5.0 rebounds a game in four career starts vs. the Wolverines. Darby has shot well, hitting 63 percent (19-31) from the field, 61 percent (6-11) from 3-point range and 92 percent (11-12) from the foul line against Michigan.
Wolverines Looking for First Win at VCA
Michigan is one of six Big Ten teams who have gone winless in the four previous seasons at Value City Arena. The only league schools that have managed victories at the VCA are Iowa, twice, Indiana, Michigan State and Penn State. The Buckeyes are 28-5 in Big Ten games played at Value City Arena.
Michigan Ends Skid with 9-Game Win Streak
Michigan opened the season with six-consecutive losses before winning seven games to enter the Big Ten season at 7-6 overall. The Wolverines earned their first win of the season against Bowling Green and followed with victories over Charleston Southern, Vanderbilt, Eastern Michigan, UCLA on the road, San Francisco and IUPUI. Michigan opened the Big Ten season with wins over Wisconsin and Penn State before traveling to Columbus.
Blanchard Tops Four Wolverines Offensively
Michigan senior forward LaVell Blanchard is the top scorer and rebounder for Michigan. He averages 17.4 points and 7.3 rebounds a contest. Freshman guard Daniel Horton is the next in line offensively at 15.5 points a game. He is followed by junior forward Bernard Robinson, Jr. (12.7 ppg.). Robinson, Jr., also averages 6.2 rebounds per game.
Amaker in Second Season at UM
Tommy Amaker is in his second season with the Wolverines. He compiled an 11-18 record in his inaugural campaign in Ann Arbor. In six seasons as a head coach, Amaker is 88-79 overall, which includes four years at Seton Hall.
Buckeyes Down 1st Ranked Opponent of Season With Win vs. Indiana
Ohio State has played six ranked opponents this season. The Buckeyes have played three teams who were ranked No. 4 nationally by the Associated Press at the time they faced the Buckeyes. Two games, vs. Alabama and Duke, were contested on neutral courts. Ohio State then traveled to Pittsburgh Dec. 18 to play the only true road game of the non-conference season. No. 24 Louisville downed the Buckeyes in overtime Jan. 4, 72-64. Ohio State fell at No. 25 Michigan State, 66-55, Jan. 9 before claiming victory over No. 15 Indiana Jan. 11. Indiana is the next ranked opponent on the Ohio State schedule. The Buckeyes travel to Bloomington for a Jan. 21 meeting with the Hoosiers. It will be the fifth game away from Columbus for the Buckeyes this season.
Buckeyes Play 104th Hoops Season, 91st in Big Ten Conference
Ohio State has a record of 82-22 (.788) in season-opening games over the 104 years of men’s basketball at OSU. The Buckeyes are 86-18 (.827) in home openers and 49-54 (.476) in road/neutral openers. Ohio State did not play a road game in 1900-01. This is the 91st season of Big Ten membership in men’s basketball for the Buckeyes. Ohio State is 50-41 (.549) in conference openers, 62-29 (.681) in league home openers and 34-57 (.374) in the first road game of the season in Big Ten play.
Ohio State vs. Ranked Opponents
The Buckeyes are 126-198 all-time against opponents ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. In the last five years, Ohio State has won 22 of 40 (.550) games against ranked foes.
Michigan Visits VCA 2-0 in Big Ten
Michigan continued its turnaround from a 6-game early season losing streak with its ninth-consecutive win last Saturday against Penn State, 66-53. The Wolverines opened league play with a 66-55 come-from-behind victory over Wisconsin Jan. 8. Senior LaVell Blanchard led four UM players in double figures with 15 points against PSU. He also tied junior Bernard Robinson, Jr., with eight rebounds.
Salley Added to Buckeye Roster
Nate Salley, a freshman safety on the Ohio State football team, joined the men’s basketball team Jan. 7. Salley took three days off after helping the football team win the national title before donning basketball practice gear and working out with Jim O’Brien’s squad this week. Salley, a 6-foot-3-inch, 195-pound guard, averaged more than 19 points a game as a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He wore the No. 21 on the football field and will do same as a member of the basketball team. On the gridiron, he played in all 14 games, primarily on special teams, recording six total tackles and three solos. He scored on his only shot from the field in Ohio State’s loss at Michigan State Jan. 9.
Darby, Connolly Get Little Pine Time
Senior guards Brent Darby and Sean Connolly have little experience watching game action this season. Connolly averages 38.8 minutes a game. Darby plays 37.8 minutes a contest. Both played the full 45 minutes of action in the overtime loss to Louisville Jan. 4 and then all 40 minutes in the win over Indiana Jan. 11.
Connolly’s Line Time Increases
Sean Connolly did not take a free throw attempt in the first three games of the season. He has since connected on 25 of 30 foul shots for a free throw shooting percentage of .833. He is a career 80 percent shooter from the foul line (155-193), which includes a sub-par junior year in which he shot just 65 percent (28-43).
Darby Leading Ohio State to Team Foul Shooting Mark of 72 percent
Brent Darby has been to the foul line 10 or more times in five games this season. In those games, he has made 51 of 60 free throws (.850). He leads Ohio State in free throws made (75) and attempted (93). As a team, Ohio State has connected on 241 of 335 free throws for a .719 accuracy rating.
Radinovic Putting Points on the Board
Junior center Velimir Radinovic entered this season with just two games in double figures offensively. In the last seven games, he has scored 10 or more points four times, including a career-high 19 points in the win over Radford Dec. 23. He has started nine games this year. He has made improvement at the foul line connected on 75 percent of his free throws this year (41-55). He made 63 percent as a freshman (20-32) and 70 percent as a sophomore (30-43).
Ohio State vs. the Big Ten Conference
Ohio State has a winning record against the Big Ten Conference overall and has a winning mark all-time against five league members. This is the 91st season Ohio State has been affiliated with the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes have won or shared 17 league titles, including the 2001-02 co-championship.
Illinois 59-95 Indiana 68-94 Iowa 63-68 Michigan 82-67 Michigan State 45-55 Minnesota 71-51 Northwestern 101-44 Penn State 13-12 Purdue 70-77 Wisconsin 79-55 Totals 651-618
This Date In History
Ohio State is 13-9 in games played on Jan. 15. Ohio State is just 2-4 in the last six outings on this date. The last win was in 2000 at Northwestern (58-44). The last home win also was against the Wildcats in 1987 (87-59).
OSU on Jan. 15 1/15/07 L Cincinnati 30-32 1/15/10 W Otterbein 45-16 1/15/16 L @Illinois 10-21 1/15/18 W Ohio Wesleyan 46-20 1/15/21 W @Michigan 22-10 1/15/34 W @Indiana 27-23 1/15/38 W Iowa 48-29 1/15/40 W Northwestern 32-31 1/15/44 W Indiana 74-38 1/15/49 L @Iowa 49-53 1/15/55 L Illinois 78-86 1/15/66 L @Michigan State 64-80 1/15/72 W Michigan 84-73 1/15/73 W @Georgia Tech 85-79 1/15/77 W @Northwestern 69-57 1/15/81 W Northwestern 81-69 1/15/83 L @Illinois 55-63 1/15/86 L @Indiana 66-69 1/15/87 W Northwestern 87-59 1/15/94 L Illinois 75-83 1/15/97 L @Iowa 62-76 1/15/00 W @Northwestern 58-44
Jenkins’ Career High Leads to Win Over No. 15 Indiana
Balancing a punishing inside game with guard Brent Darby’s 28 points, the Buckeyes beat No. 15 Indiana 81-69. Shun Jenkins, whose career best coming in was seven points, had 22 points and seven rebounds for Ohio State while Zach Williams added 13 points and seven rebounds. Darby reached 1,000 career points on a 3-pointer early in the game. He is the 41st player to reach 1,000 at Ohio State. The Buckeyes improved to 12-3 against ranked teams at Value City Arena. The Hoosiers were 9-of-34 on 3-point attempts and were outrebounded 41-32. The Buckeyes expanded a 35-25 halftime lead to as many as 18 points early in second half. The Buckeyes led 48-30 after Williams’ three-point play with 15:12 left. The Hoosiers pulled to 64-53 on Jeff Newton’s 3-pointer with 3:14 left. Williams hit two foul shots before Tom Coverdale made 3-pointers on consecutive Indiana trips down the floor to make it 67-59 with 2:46 remaining. Ohio State came right back with Jenkins scoring on a power move inside off a fast-break feed from center Velimir Radinovic, with Radinovic then making two free throws after an Indiana missed shot. Jenkins’ was the Buckeyes’ only field goal over the final 6 minutes. With the Hoosiers forced to foul, the Buckeyes scored 15 of their final 17 points at the free throw line. Bracey Wright led the Hoosiers with 20 points and Coverdale had 18 points and six assists and Newton added 16 points.
Noting the Win Against Indiana
The Buckeyes are 8-1 in Value City Arena this season and 66-9(.880) since it open in 1998. In addition, Ohio State is 5-0 in BigTen home openers and 28-5 against conference teams in VCA. The No.15 Hoosiers became the 15th opponent to visit Value City Arena withan AP national ranking. Ohio State has won 12 of 15 games againstranked teams under Jim O’Brien on their home floor. The Buckeyesare 20-28 all-time against Indiana when the Hoosiers are ranked.The Buckeyes faced their sixth ranked opponent of the 2002-03season against No. 15 Indiana. The victory was the first winagainst a ranked opponent this season. Ohio State is 125-198all-time versus ranked opponents. The last time Ohio State beat aranked team was March 9, 2002 when the No. 23 Buckeyes downed No.10 Illinois (94-88) in the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis. Thelast time an unranked Ohio State squad beat a ranked team was Jan.19, 2002 when the Buckeyes defeated Indiana (73-67) in Value CityArena. Ohio State is 21-4 when playing in front of a sellout crowdat home. Iowa, Kansas, Michigan State and Indiana are the onlyteams to overcome the Buckeyes in a full house at Value City Arena.The Buckeyes are 79-18 when scoring 70 or more points under JimO’Brien. Ohio State has led at halftime in each of its nine homegames this season and is 7-1 overall when leading at the break.Senior guard Brent Darby became Ohio State’s 41st all-time playerto reach 1,000 career points with his 3-point basket at 16:48 inthe first half. He finished the game with 28 points, totaling 1,027thus far in his career as a Buckeye. He is currently 38th on OSU’scareer scoring list. Jamie Skelton (1991-94) and Ken Johnson(1998-01) are tied for 36th place on the list with 1,055 careerpoints. The game against Indiana was the fifth time Brent Darby hasscored 20 or more points in a game this season. With five3-pointers against the Hoosiers, Darby moves up to fourth place onOhio State’s 3-point field goal list with 130 career 3-pointers.Jamie Skelton (1991-94) is third on the list with 144. With one3-point field goal, Sean Connolly remains eighth on the list with110. Chris Jent is currently seventh with 112. Darby’s five 3-pointfield goals tied a career-high. He also connected on five3-pointers against Morehead State (12/14). Junior Shun Jenkinsscored a career-high 22 points against the Hoosiers. His previouscareer high was seven against Michigan State (1/9). He also set acareer-high nine field goals. The last time Ohio State had twoplayers score 20 or more points was against Tennessee State(12/28/02) when Sean Connolly totaled 24 points and Darby scored22. Indiana leads the all-time series against Ohio State, 95-67,but the Buckeyes own a 47-33 advantage when playing in Columbus.Ohio State is 62-29 (.681) in Big Ten home openers in 91 seasons ofBig Ten membership.
Four Non-Conference Foes Among Top 20 Teams in Associated Press Poll
Ohio State is scheduled to play six teams and seven games against teams currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. Another four games are on tap against teams receiving votes in either the AP or ESPN/USA Today polls. No. 1/1 Duke, No. 3/3 Pittsburgh, No. 8/8 Illinois, No. 9/10 Alabama, No. 15/18 Louisville and No. 18/17 Indiana all battled the Buckeyes this season. The Hoosiers are the next ranked team on the OSU schedule. Indiana and the Buckeyes play twice in a span of 11 days beginning with the home win last Saturday and ending with a road contest Jan. 21. Ohio State travels to Illinois Feb. 9. Michigan State, Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue received votes for Top 25 consideration this week.
Several Buckeyes Miss Games with Various Injuries
Brandon Fuss-Cheatham, a sophomore point guard, Shun Jenkins, a junior forward, Terence Dials, a sophomore center, and senior guard Sean Connolly have missed game action recovering from injuries. Fuss-Cheatham, who started both exhibition contests and then missed the first four regular-season games and another vs. Indiana (1/11), went down with an injury to his left knee in an exhibition game against the Harlem Globetrotters. The injury, a partially torn lateral meniscus, required arthroscopic surgery Nov. 25. Jenkins suffered a broken little finger on his left hand against the Globetrotters. He had surgery Nov. 27 and missed the first eight games of the season. He had the pins removed Dec. 19 and played for the first time as a Buckeye against Tennessee State. Dials has missed the last seven games with a stress fracture in his lumbar spine (level 2). He is expected to miss up to six weeks. He last played against Pittsburgh Dec. 18. Connolly did not play at Michigan State while recovering from a left ankle sprain sustained Jan. 4 against Louisville.
Darby, Connolly Among Big Ten Leaders
Seniors Brent Darby and Sean Connolly are among the Big Ten leaders in several categories. Darby is No. 7 in assists per game (4.46), No. 3 in scoring (18.8 ppg.), No. 6 in steals per game (1.69) and No. 5 in 3-point shooting percentage (.451/32-71) and No. 6 in 3-pointers made (2.46 per game). Connolly is No. 7 in 3-pointers made (2.42 pg.), No. 5 (T) in free throw percentage (.833/25-30), and No. 9 in 3-point shooting percentage (.414/29-70).
Connolly, Darby Reach 100 Career Games Played
Sean Connolly reached 100 games played against Seton Hall. Connolly played a total of 30 games at Providence and has appeared in 75 at Ohio State. Brent Darby has played in 103 games as a Buckeye with 61 career starts.
Buckeyes to Play 8 of 9 Games at VCA
After six games in which Ohio State opened the season with a pair of neutral games, one road contest and three home games, the Buckeyes play eight of nine games in Columbus. Five games, vs. Seton Hall (W 74-51), Radford (W 96-80), Tennessee State (W 94-73), Hampton (W 70-62) and Louisville (L 72-64, ot) were played at home before the Big Ten opener at Michigan State (Jan. 9). The Buckeyes defeated Indiana (81-69) Jan. 11 and now play host to Michigan and Wisconsin before a road game at Indiana Jan. 21.
Buckeyes Seek 20th 20-Win Season
Jim O’Brien has guided the Buckeyes to 20-win seasons in each of the last four years. Another 20-victory campaign in 2002-03 would set an Ohio State record for consecutive seasons (5) with 20 or more wins. Only the 1960-1963 teams won more games over a four-year period (98) than O’Brien’s last four squads, which finished with 94 victories. Ohio State teams have won 20 or more games 19 times in 104 years of basketball.
Buckeyes Also On Big Ten Win Streak
Ohio State has won 11 or more games in Big Ten Conference play in each of the last four years, winning co-championships in 2000 and 2002, finishing second in 1999 and third in 2001. Only the 1960-64 teams, which won or shared a record five-consecutive Big Ten titles, had a more successful stretch in league play.
Opponent Experience Prevalent
The Buckeyes will play a total of 15 regular-season games against teams that participated in postseason competition in 2002. Ten games will be against NCAA tournament teams with the remaining five against National Invitation Tournament participants.
Three Card Monte, LaMonta, Emonte
When Jim O’Brien looks down his bench this season, he’ll have a full compliment of Monte’s with assistant coach LaMonta (la-MON-tay) Stone, Monte (MON-tee) Mathis and junior guard Emonte (e-MON-tee) Jernigan. O’Brien also will have a trio of players, who use the same pronunciation but different spellings of the first name (SHAWN). Seniors Sean Connolly and Shaun Smith along with junior Shun Jenkins all pronounce their names the same.
O’Brien Selected for NCAA Committee
Jim O’Brien will serve as one of four NCAA Division I men’s basketball coaches on the NCAA Basketball Issues Committee. O’Brien will serve for one year. Coaches and administrators on this committee will meet to discuss NCAA Division I men’s basketball issues.
Jernigan Beginning to Make Adjustment to Ohio State
Junior guard Emonte Jernigan knows how to adjust to new challenges as a student-athlete. He began his career as a junior college player before signing to play NCAA Division I basketball with Oregon State. After one season with the Beavers, Jernigan left to attend another junior college for the 2001-02 campaign. He did not play organized basketball last year and will have two seasons of eligibility at Ohio State. His season out of basketball last year allows him to play immediately at Ohio State. He has played in all 12 games with three starts.
Winning Percentage Soars for O’Brien in Last Four Seasons
Jim O’Brien has won more than 71 percent of the games he’s coached at Ohio State after an 8-22 record in his first season with the Buckeyes. O’Brien is 101-40 (.716) in the 141 games following the 1997-98 campaign, his first in Columbus. The Buckeyes have won 20 or more games and advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of the last four seasons, while finishing in the Top 3 in the Big Ten regular season race all four years, winning a pair of Big Ten regular season titles (2000 and 2002) and a claiming one Big Ten tournament crown (2002).
