Men’s Basketball Travels To Mackey Arena – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Opponent Purdue
Site Mackey Arena (14,123)
Game Time 8 p.m. (EST)
TV ESPN Plus
Local TV WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent Jim Barbar (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 (9-8, 2-4)
G 4 – Brent Darby, 6-1, Sr.
G 3 – Sean Connolly, 6-5, Sr.
G 2 – Brandon Fuss-Cheatham, 6-1, So.
C 14 – Velimir Radinovic, 7-0, Jr.
F 50 – Shun Jenkins, 6-6, Jr.
Purdue Boilermakers
Probable Starters (12-4, 4-1)
G 00 – Willie Deane, 6-1, Sr.
G 10 – Brandon McKnight , 6-2, So.
C 5 – Ivan Kartelo, 6-11, Jr.
F 20 – Kenneth Lowe, 6-3, Jr.
F 31 – Chris Booker, 6-10, Jr.
Buckeyes Closing on Purdue
Purdue is just seven games up in the all-time series between the Buckeyes and Boilermakers. Purdue leads 77-70 all time but have lost the last six meetings against Ohio State, including the last three in West Lafayette. Ohio State has not won four-consecutive games on the road in the series since 1950-54. The Buckeyes downed Purdue 79-71 last year in West Lafayette and 77-66 in Columbus. The game this year at Purdue will be the 74th trip to West Lafayette for the Buckeyes.. Ohio State is 47-27 in games played in Columbus. The Boilermakers hold a 50-23 edge in West Lafayette.
Boilers Welcome Buckeyes with 12-4 Record
Purdue is off to a 12-4 start this season with a 4-1 record in Big Ten Conference play. The only league loss to date was a 75-62 setback at Illinois. The Boilermakers own conference wins over Northwestern, Michigan State, Penn State and Indiana. In non-conference action, Purdue was 8-3 with a win over Louisville.
Purdue Cruises to Win Over Indiana
Kenny Lowe scored 19 points, Willie Deane had 18 and Chris Booker 13 as Purdue dominated from start to finish in a 69-47 win over No. 14 Indiana. The Boilermakers snapped a five-game losing streak to the Hoosiers and improved to 10-0 at home. It was their first win over a Top-25 team since they beat No. 9 Illinois Jan. 9, 2002. Purdue was 1-12 in its last 13 games against ranked teams. Purdue beat Louisville just before it entered the Top 25 and defeated Michigan State the day after it fell out of the poll. Purdue did plenty of good things against Indiana and controlled the game from the outset, thanks largely to guards Lowe and Deane. Lowe hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 points and Deane had seven points in the first 10 minutes, as Purdue jumped to a 22-12 lead and never let the lead dip below 11. Lowe made his first six shots and scored 17 points in the first half.
Deane Top Scorer for Boilers
Senior guard Willie Deane is the top scorer for Purdue with 17.0 points per game. He is followed by junior Kenneth Lowe’s 12.3 ppg. and junior forward Chris Booker’s 10.9 ppg. Booker also is the team’s leading rebounder with 5.9 rebounds a contest. Lowe has been to the foul line 76 times this season and has made 69 attempts to average 91 percent accuracy at the free throw line.
Keady in 23rd Year at Purdue
Gene Keady has been on the sidelines at Purdue for the last 23 years. His career record is 519-247, which includes a couple seasons at Western Kentucky. At Purdue, he has a record of 481-228.
Dials, Darby Top Scorers vs. Purdue
Senior Brent Darby has played in four career games against the Boilermakers and has averaged 11.2 points a game in those meetings. Sophomore Terence Dials, who is not with a back injury, played in two games last year and averaged 12.0 points, connecting on 9 of 10 field goal attempts. Junior Zach Williams and senior Sean Connolly both have three games of experience against Purdue as Buckeyes. Connolly played against the Boilermakers once while at Providence. Williams averages 8.6 points and a team-high 5.0 rebounds vs. Purdue while Connolly chips in 8.0 points a game.
Buckeyes Seek Back-to-Back Road Wins
Ohio State is in position to win back-to-back road games for the first time since wins at UMass and Northwestern Jan. 9 and 12 of 2002. The last time the Buckeyes won two consecutive road games in Big Ten play was during a five-game road winning streak near the end of the 2001 Big Ten season. The Buckeyes won their last two road games in the league that year over Northwestern and Penn State Feb. 24 and March 3, respectively.
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 1,096 career points and is No. 34 all-time on the Ohio State scoring chart. Sean Connolly has scored 971 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 (35th/1,076) in 2000, Ken Johnson (37th/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 113 of 294 (.384) career 3-pointers in three seasons as a Buckeye. He is No. 3 all-time in 3-point shooting percentage among players with more than 200 career attempts. He is No. 8 in 3-pointers made and No. 7 in attempts as well. Senior Brent Darby is No. 5 in 3-point shooting percentage (.379) and is No. 4 in made (134) and No. 5 in attempted (354) 3-pointers.
Darby, Connolly Get Little Pine Time
Senior guards Brent Darby and Sean Connolly have little experience watching game action this season. Connolly averages 37.9 minutes a game. Darby plays 37.8 minutes a contest. Darby has played 40 or more minutes in eight games, including three of the last five contests. Connolly has not come out of five games and has played 39 in two others. He played a season low 31 minutes at Iowa last Saturday.
Three Buckeyes Playing More than 34 Minutes Per Game
Jim O’Brien has not had three players log more than 34 minutes per game until this season. Seniors Sean Connolly (37.9) and Brent Darby (37.8) along with junior Zach Williams (34.1) all have trouble finding time to rest this season. The Buckeyes have used eight different starting lineups because of injuries but Darby, Connolly and Williams remain the anchors of the Buckeye lineup. No Buckeye in O’Brien’s six years has averaged as many minutes as Connolly or Darby since Michael Redd played 37.9 minutes a game as a freshman in 1997-98. Three other players averaged 30 or more minutes that season, but not more than 34 a contest.
Darby Leading Ohio State to Team Foul Shooting Mark of 73 percent
Brent Darby has been to the foul line 10 or more times in six games this season. In those games, he has made 62 of 76 free throws (.816). He leads Ohio State in free throws made (106) and attempted (131). As a team, Ohio State has connected on 310 of 424 free throws for a .731 accuracy rating.
Buckeye Success at Foul Line Best Since 1990-91 Season
Ohio State has not shot a better percentage from the free throw line since the 1991-92 season when the Buckeyes connected on 506-702 foul shots for a .721 shooting percentage. Ohio State has made 310-424 (.731) free throws this year. The last time the Buckeyes finished the season above .700 at the foul line was in 1999-00 when the Buckeyes knocked down 443-629 free throws (.704). Ohio State is on pace to make over 500 foul shots for the second-consecutive season. The last time an Ohio State team made 500 or more foul shots in back-to-back seasons came in 1990-91 (551-778/.708) and 1991-92 (506-702/.721).
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.
OSU vs. the Big Ten Illinois 59-95 Indiana 68-95 Iowa 64-68 Michigan 82-68 Michigan State 45-55 Minnesota 71-51 Northwestern 101-44 Penn State 13-12 Purdue 70-77 Wisconsin 79-56 Totals 652-621
This Date In History
Ohio State is 12-8 in games played on Jan. 29. Ohio State has won its last three on this date, including a 78-67 win over Illinois last year in Columbus. The last loss was to Purdue in Columbus in 1987.
OSU on Jan. 29 1/29/10 W Hiram 41-18 1/29/12 L @Indiana 19-34 1/29/13 W Oberlin 31-21 1/29/23 W @Northwestern 20-18 1/29/27 W @Minnesota 33-31 1/29/44 W @Michigan 52-39 1/29/49 L @Michigan 48-54 1/29/51 L Northwestern 67-78 1/29/55 W Northwestern 91-90(16) 1/29/62 W @Purdue 94(1)-73 1/29/66 W Hardin-Simmons 72-64 1/29/68 L Cornell 64-76 1/29/72 L @Michigan 78(6)-88 1/29/77 L @Minnesota 67-77(13) 1/29/81 W Wisconsin 71-67 1/29/83 L @Northwestern 64-66 1/29/87 L Purdue 73-75(4) 1/29/89 W @Louisville 85(17)-79(24) 1/29/00 W Purdue 68(8)-57 1/29/02 W Illinois 78(25)-67(12)
Darby, Buckeyes Go 4-0 at Iowa
Brent Darby scored 29 points to lead Ohio State to an 83-72 victory over Iowa on the road, the fourth-consecutive win over the Hawkeyes in Iowa City. Darby has not lost in his career at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. He scored 19 points in the second half and won a shooting duel with Iowa’s Chauncey Leslie, who scored 21 of his 25 points in the final half. Darby scored 10 points in the first eight and a half minutes of the second half as the Buckeyes rediscovered the shooting touch that had been missing in their last three losses. The Buckeyes shot 49 percent against Iowa. Darby hit a 3-pointer with 12:34 remaining to give Ohio State the lead for good. Sean Connolly scored 17 points and Matt Sylvester chipped in 11 for the Buckeyes, a career high for the redshirt freshman. The Hawkeyes got 14 points from freshman Greg Brunner, the only other player to score in double figures as Iowa shot just 37.3 percent. Darby also contributed four steals and a career high six steals.
Noting the Win at Iowa
Noting the Buckeyes:
Ohio State has won four consecutive games against Iowa and itslast four games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the longest road winningstreak for OSU in Iowa City. The Buckeyes are now 64-68 all timeagainst the Hawkeyes. Sophomore Brandon Fuss-Cheatham recorded acareer high seven assists. Redshirt freshman Matt Sylvester scoreda career high 11 points off the bench for the Buckeyes. He alsorecorded a career best six rebounds. Brent Darby moved into 34thplace all-time in career scoring at Ohio State. His 29 points vs.the Hawkeyes moved him up to 1,096 career points, passing ScooniePenn (1,076) on the all-time list. Senior Brent Darby is 4-0 in hiscareer on the road at Iowa. Darby’s six steals vs. the Hawkeyes area career high. The 55 second-half points set a season high forpoints scored in a half this year for OSU. Senior Sean Connollyplayed a season low 31 minutes. He finished with 17 points. TheBuckeyes improved to 8-1 on the year when scoring 70 or morepoints.
Six Foes Among Top 25 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 seven games are on tap against teams receiving votes in either the AP or ESPN/USA Today polls. No. 2/2 Pittsburgh, No. 5/5 Duke, No. 8/8 Louisville, No. 19/20 Indiana and No. 23/21 Alabama all have faced the Buckeyes this season. No. 13/14 Illinois awaits Ohio State Feb. 9 in Champaign. Purdue, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan are all receiving votes in one or both polls.
Key Buckeyes Miss 26 Games to Date With Various Injuries
Brandon Fuss-Cheatham (6 games), a sophomore point guard, Shun Jenkins (8), a junior forward, Terence Dials (11), a sophomore center, and senior guard Sean Connolly (1) have missed game action recovering from injuries. Fuss-Cheatham, who started both exhibition contests and then missed the first four regular-season games and two contests in Big Ten play, 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 eight 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 Among Big Ten Leaders
Senior Brent Darby is among the Big Ten leaders in several categories. He is No. 3 in scoring (18.5 ppg.), No. 7 in assists (4.24), No. 4 in steals (1.82) and No. 7 in 3-point percentage (36-93/.387) and No. 8 in 3-pointers made (2.12). In Big Ten games only, Darby is No. 2 in scoring (18.8 ppg.), No. 2 in steals (1.83) and No. 6 in free throw percentage (.818/45-55).
Jenkins Makes Presence Felt in Big Ten
Junior Shun Jenkins has started all six Big Ten games and has responded with 47 total rebounds for an average of 7.8 a contest. That average rates third best in conference play. His 22 offensive rebounds is the second best average (3.67) among league players.
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 79 at Ohio State. Brent Darby has played in 107 games as a Buckeye with 65 career starts.
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.
Winning Percentage Soars for O’Brien in Last Four Seasons
Jim O’Brien has won 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 102-42 (.706) in the 144 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).
Ohio State Plays 7th Ranked Foe, 5th Away from Columbus
Ohio State played its seventh ranked opponent of the season when the Buckeyes traveled to No. 14 Indiana. 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 , 72-64, Jan. 4. Ohio State fell at No. 25 Michigan State, 66-55, Jan. 9. The Buckeyes have split meetings with Indiana, ranked No. 18 during a Hoosier loss in Columbus (81-69) and then most recently in an IU win in Bloomington (69-51).
Ohio State vs. Ranked Opponents
The Buckeyes are 126-199 all-time against opponents ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. In the last five years, Ohio State has won 22 of 41 (.537) games against ranked foes.
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 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.
Value City Arena Serves Buckeyes Well
The Buckeyes are in the fifth season at Value City Arena. Ohio State is 66-11 (.857) in games played on the home floor since the building opened for the start of the 1998-99 campaign.
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.
