Men’s Basketball Hosts Georgia Tech In Big Ten/ACC Challenge – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2003
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Date Dec. 3, 2003
Opponent No. 13 Georgia Tech
Site Value City Arena (19,200)
Game Time 7 p.m. (EST)
TV ESPN
Local TV None
TV Talent Dave Strader (Play-by-Play), Steve Lavin and Tim McCormick (Color)
Radio OSU Radio Network (59 stations)
Local Radio WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent Paul Keels (P-by-P), Ron Stokes (Color)
Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (2-2)
G 2 – Brandon Fuss-Cheatham, 6-1, Jr.
G 10 – Tony Stockman, 6-1, Jr.
G 0 – J.J. Sullinger, 6-5, So.
C 14 – Velimir Radinovic, 7-0, Sr.
F 34 – Terence Dials, 6-8, So.
No. 13 Georgia Tech
Probable Starters (5-0)
G 24 – Marvin Lewis, 6-4, Sr.
G 3 – Jarrett Jack, 6-3, So.
C 12 – Luke Schenscher, 7-1, Jr.
F 55 – Anthony McHenry, 6-7, Jr.
F 1 – B.J. Elder, 6-4, Jr.v
Stockman, Sullinger Pace Buckeyes
Junior Tony Stockman leads Ohio State with an average of 18.0 points a game after the first four contests of the season. He has connected on 48 percent of his field goals (26-54) and 90 percent of his foul shots (9-10). He also has taken the lion’s share of Ohio State’s 3-point attempts (11-29/.379). With a total of 11 steals, Stockman leads all Big Ten players with an average of 2.75 thefts a game. His 2.75 3-pointers made per game rates second among Big Ten players. Sophomore J.J. Sullinger averages 12.8 points a game, second on the team, and is the squad leader from 3-point range with a .538 shooting percentage (7-13). He also is connecting on 61 percent of his field goal attempts (19-31).
T. Dials Playing Well Inside at Both Ends
Sophomore center/forward Terence Dials, who missed the majority of 2002-03 with a back injury, is the team’s leading rebounder and third leading scorer after four games this year. He is averaging a double-double with 10.0 points and 10.5 rebounds, including a career-high 14-rebound effort in Ohio State’s 77-71 win over Central Michigan at the Maui Invitational. Dials also has been consistent at the foul line, making 20-of-28 attempts (.714). His seven assists rank third and his four blocks lead the team. Among Big Ten players, Dials ranks second in rebounding behind the 10.7 boards averaged by Minnesota’s Kris Humphries. Dials also rates No. 2 in offensive (3.50) and defensive (7.0) rebounds per game in league statistics.
Buckeyes Look to Break Tie in Big Ten/ACC Challenge Series
The Buckeyes are 1-1 in the two years they have participated in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Ohio State defeated N.C. State in 2001 and fell to Duke a year ago. Georgia Tech is the second ACC team to play in Value City Arena during this event. N.C. State traveled to Columbus for its meeting with the Buckeyes. Duke hosted the Buckeyes at a neutral site in Greensboro, N.C., last year.
Buckeyes Last to Come Home
The game against Georgia Tech will be the first of the season for the Buckeyes at Value City Arena. Ohio State opened the season with four games away from Columbus. The Buckeyes are the last Big Ten team to play a home game this season.
Harris Gets First Start
Freshman McDonald’s All-American Ivan Harris started his first career game for the Buckeyes against Central Michigan in the second game at the Maui Invitational. Freshmen started a total of 61 games in Jim O’Brien’s first season in Columbus (1997-98). Since that first year, freshmen have made a total of 66 starts over the last six seasons. No freshman started during the 2001-02 campaign for Ohio State.
Yellow Jackets Travel to Columbus with Title, Win Streak
Georgia Tech won the 2003 Preseason National Invitation Tournament with an 85-65 win over Texas Tech Nov. 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Yellow Jackets are 5-0 and have wins over Louisiana Lafayette (79-45), Hofstra (75-56), then No. 1 Connecticut (77-61) and Texas Tech in the NIT. Cornell played host to the Yellow Jackets Nov. 23 and fell 90-69 in Tech’s other victory.
Four in Double Figures for Tech
B.J. Elder leads a balanced Georgia Tech offense with an average of 16.6 points a game this season. He is followed by Isma’il Muhammad (15.0), Jarrett Jack (14.6) and Marvin Lewis (14.0). Muhammad comes off the bench for Georgia Tech. Jack is the team’s leading rebounder with 6.2 rpg.
Yellow Jacket Offense Clicks
Georgia Tech averages 81.2 points a game while holding opponents to 59.2 points for an advantage of +22. The Yellow Jackets defeated then No. 1 Connecticut 77-71 in the semifinals of the 2003 Preseason NIT and then downed Texas Tech, who will be traveling to Columbus Jan. 4, 2004, for a meeting with the Buckeyes, 85-65.
Buckeyes Battle 1st Ranked Foe of the Season
No. 13 Georgia Tech represents the first Ohio State opponent of the season ranked among the Associated Press Top 25 this season. Ohio State is 128-204 all-time against ranked opponents. A total of eight teams on the 2003-04 Ohio State schedule are ranked among the Top 25 or are receiving votes in the AP or ESPN/USA Today polls.
Nationwide Welcomes Buckeyes, Hokies
Ohio State will face Virginia Tech Dec. 6 at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus this season. The game will be a preview of the first and second rounds of the 2004 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, which will be played at Nationwide March 19 and 21. Ohio State will serve as the host school for both the Virginia Tech game and the NCAA tournament games. The Buckeyes also will play host to the first and second rounds of the 2004 Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. Those games will be played at St. John Arena March 20-23.
The Buckeyes In Hawaii
Ohio State traveled to the West Coast and then on to Hawaii to start the 2003-04 season. The Buckeyes faced San Francisco on their way to the Maui Invitational. Ohio State made its third trip to the Maui event and has a 6-3 record in the tournament. The Buckeyes are 10-11 in Hawaii, which includes a 4-8 record in four appearances at the Rainbow Classic.
OSU In Maui
Ohio State finished fifth in the 2003 EA Sports Maui Invitational. The Buckeyes dropped the tournament opener to San Diego State and then won games against Central Michigan and Villanova. Junior Tony Stockman led the Buckeyes with 16.7 points a game. Sophomore Terence Dials averaged a double-double with averages of 11.7 points and 10.2 rebounds over the three games.
The Buckeyes vs. Georgia Tech
The Buckeyes and Yellow Jackets have met 12 times all-time with Ohio State leading 10-2 in the series. Georgia Tech won the latest contest, a 72-58 victory in Atlanta in the 2003 Postseason National Invitation Tournament. The Buckeyes are 5-0 against the Yellow Jackets in Columbus.
Ohio State vs. the ACC
The Buckeyes have a 32-16 all-time record against teams representing the Atlantic Coast Conference. Ohio State has met each ACC conference member except Clemson.
On This Date, OSU 11-10
Ohio State is 11-10 in games played on Dec. 3 and have won six of the last eight played on this date. The Buckeyes fell to Duke last year on Dec. 3 in Greensboro, N.C., in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Duke won that game 91-76.
Flight Time
Ohio State traveled about 4,500 miles during its trip west for the season opener at San Francisco and the 2003 EA Sports Maui Invitational. In all, the Buckeyes will travel more than 15,000 miles this season.
Ohio State is 86-18 in Home Openers
Ohio State opened its 105th season of men’s basketball with a loss at San Francisco. The Buckeyes are 82-23 (.781) all time in season openers. Ohio State is 86-18 (.827) in home openers. In the first road game of the year, Ohio State is 49-55 (.471). The Buckeyes did not play a road game in 1900-01.
First Five Years at VCA a Success
Nov. 5, 2003 marked the five-year anniversary of the opening of Value City Arena. The 2003-04 campaign is the sixth season of basketball in the facility. Ohio State has a record of 69-13 (.841) at the VCA and has ranked among the Top 10 nationally in attendance each year. A total of 1,413,620 fans have passed through the gates for an average of 17,239 a game. When all 19,200 seats are occupied, the Buckeyes have responded with a 21-5 record over the last five seasons. The nation’s best teams have also had their troubles with the Buckeyes at Value City Arena. Sixteen teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 have battled the Buckeyes at VCA. Ohio State has turned away 13 of those squads.
Four Games Away From Columbus to Start Season a First Since 1988
Ohio State has not opened the regular season with four games away from Columbus since the 1988-89 season when the Buckeyes played their first three games at the Maui Invitational and then traveled to face Western Michigan on the road. The Buckeyes opened at San Francisco this year before traveling to Maui, Hawaii, for three games.
Buckeyes Earn 50th November Victory
The fall portion of the men’s basketball season at Ohio State typically goes well for the Buckeyes. Ohio State has played 68 November games with a record of 51-17, for a winning percentage of .750.
O’Brien Names Captain
Senior Velimir Radinovic will serve as team captain for Ohio State in 2003-04. The 7-foot center was named following a vote of his teammates. He is serving his first season as an OSU captain.
Buckeyes Seek 20th 20-Win Season
Jim O’Brien has guided the Buckeyes to 20-win seasons in four of the last five years. Ohio State teams have won 20 or more games 19 times in 104 years of basketball. Ohio State won 20 or more games from 1999-2002 before winning 17 games a year ago. Ohio State has not enjoyed five 20-win seasons during a six-year stretch in history the program.
Dials Back on Court After Year Layoff
Sophomore center Terence Dials returns to the Ohio State lineup after missing the majority of his true-sophomore season with a back injury. Dials played the first six games in 2002-03 before going down for the remainder of the year with the injury. He was awarded a medical redshirt season a year ago and will retain three years of eligibility. The 6-9, 250-pounder from Youngstown, Ohio, set a freshman record at Ohio State with a .620 field goal shooting percentage (86-138). He leads the team with 10-3 rebounds a game this season.
Wait over for Stockman, Sullinger, Billings in 2003-04
A trio of Buckeyes tasted their first official action as Buckeyes when the regular season opened Nov. 21 at San Francisco. Sophomores Ricardo Billings and J.J. Sullinger along with junior Tony Stockman all were on the Ohio State campus a year ago but did not play in games for the Buckeyes. Both Sullinger and Stockman practiced with the Buckeyes following transfers from Arkansas and Clemson, respectively. Billings sat out the 2002-03 season to concentrate on academics. He did not practice with the Buckeyes last season. Sullinger and Billings will have three years of eligibility with the Buckeyes. Stockman will have two.
Nwankwo Added to Roster
Jim O’Brien added walkon Ugo Nwankwo (OO-go WAN-kwo) to the Ohio State roster in late October. Nwankwo, a 6-2, 185-pound guard, is a native of Ann Arbor, Mich. His brother Ije is a freshman basketball player at Purdue.
O’Brien Welcomes Changes on Staff
Rick Boyages, who originally was on Jim O’Brien’s staff at Ohio State following their move from Boston College in 1997-98, is back with the Buckeyes as the associate head coach. Boyages spent the last three years as the head coach at William and Mary. After the 1999-2000 season, Boyages left Columbus to take over at William and Mary, where he compiled a record of 35-52. Another former Buckeye also returns in 2003-04. David Egelhoff, a former student manager, returns to take over the video operations of the men’s basketball team. He worked in the same capacity a year ago with the NBA’s Orlando Magic.
The Postseason Streak
Ohio State will be looking to qualify for postseason play for the sixth-consecutive season under head coach Jim O’Brien in 2003-04. The Buckeyes made four trips to the NCAA tournament from 1999-2002 before accepting a bid to play in the 2003 National Invitation Tournament a year ago. The current streak is the second longest in school history behind a 12-year stretch (1982-1993) in which Ohio State played in seven NCAA tournaments and made five NIT appearances.
O’Brien is tied with Eldon Miller for the most-consecutive postseason appearances while coaching the Buckeyes. Miller took three teams to NCAA tournament play and two to the NIT from 1982-86.
Lefty Luxury
The Buckeyes feature four left-handed players on the 2003-04 roster. Junior Brandon Fuss-Cheatham, sophomores J.J. Sullinger and Charles Bass and freshman Ivan Harris all are southpaws.
Ohio Product Joins Buckeye Squad
Nick Dials, a 6-foot-1-inch point guard from New Haven, Ohio, turned down several Division I scholarship offers to walk-on with the Buckeyes in 2003-04. Once on campus, Dials was awarded a scholarship for the 2003-04 campaign. He averaged 27 points and 5.9 assists per game as a senior in high school. Dials made 86 percent of his free throws in high school. He was first-team All-Ohio in Division II as a junior and senior. For his career, he averaged 22.2 points and 5.5 assists per game and helped Willard to an 85-14 record. Dials had 52 points and 11 assists in a high-school game as a senior.
7 Buckeyes Spend Year in Residence
A total of seven student-athletes on the 2003-04 roster have spent a year on the Ohio State campus without playing in games for the Buckeyes. Sophomore Ricardo Billings sat out 2002-03 to satisfy academic requirements for eligibility this season. Sophomores Terence Dials (2002-03) and Matt Sylvester (2001-02) each sat out a season with back injuries but received medical redshirt seasons to retain four years of eligibility. Senior Shaun Smith (1999-00) did not play basketball his first season in Columbus before walking on with freshman eligibility for the 2000-01 campaign. Junior Matt Marinchick (2000-01) decided to redshirt his first year in Columbus to gain strength and experience. Finally, junior Tony Stockman and sophomore J.J. Sullinger both sat out the 2002-03 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules after leaving Clemson and Arkansas, respectively, following the 2001-02 season.
