Men’s Basketball Ends Regular Season At Home vs. Michigan State – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 7, 2003
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Opponent Michigan State
Site Value City Arena (19,200)
Game Time 12:15 p.m. (EST)
TV ESPN Regional
Local TV WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent Larry Morgan (P-by-P), Eddie Fogler (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 (14-12, 7-8)
G 4 – Brent Darby, 6-1, Sr.
G 3 – Sean Connolly, 6-5, Sr.
G 40 – Matt Sylvester, 6-7, So.
C 14 – Velimir Radinovic, 7-0, Jr.
F 33 – Zach Williams, 6-7, Jr.
Michigan State Spartans
Probable Starters (17-11, 9-6)
G 23 – Kelvin Torbert, 6-4, So.
G 5 – Chris Hill, 6-3, So.
C 40 – Paul Davis, 6-11, Fr.
F 25 – Aloyisus Anagonye, 6-8, Sr.
F 15 – Alan Anderson, 6-6, So.
Darby, Connolly Complete Home Careers
Ohio State senior guards Sean Connolly and Brent Darby are playing their last games in Value City Arena against Michigan State. Both players reached 1,000 career points this season and both will finish among the Top 10 in 3-point shooting at Ohio State. Darby will finish among the Top 25 players in all-time scoring at Ohio State. Another senior, head manager Chris Penny, also will be working his final game in Value City Arena today. In pregame ceremonies, Darby will be accompanied by Zede and Hawley Warren (mother and stepfather), Dorothy Jones (grandmother) and son Brent Darby, Jr. Connolly will be accompanied by his parents, Mike and Karen Connolly. Penny will take the floor with his father, Charles Penny and his mother, Billie Mautz. Buckeyes Close Season at Home
Ohio State is playing the final regular season game of the year at home for the first time since the 1997-98 season, the final campaign at St. John Arena. The Buckeyes have ended the season at Penn State, twice, at Minnesota, and at Michigan the last four years. The Buckeyes are 3-1 the last four years in the final regular season game of the year and have twice clinched shares of the Big Ten title with road wins at Minnesota in 2000 and at Michigan last year.
Michigan State Has 10-Game Edge in All-Time Series
Michigan State has won 55 games in the series with Ohio State. The Buckeyes have been victorious in 45 contests. The Spartans are 37-13 in East Lansing and 18-32 in Columbus. The Spartans won the earlier meeting this season in East Lansing, 66-55, to start the Big Ten season for both teams.
Spartans Return to Winning Ways
Michigan State won its last three games against Minnesota, Purdue and Iowa after losing three games in a stretch of four in the Big Ten. The Spartans entered the Big Ten season with an 8-4 record and lost one other non-league games against Syracuse Feb. 23. Michigan State is 9-6 in league games with losses to Iowa, Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois.
Hill Lone Scorer in Double Digits for MSU
Sophomore guard Chris Hill leads the Spartans with 14.0 points per game this season. He is the only Spartan averaging in double figures. Three players average just over eight points a game for MSU. Senior forward Aloysius Anagonye is the team’s leading rebounder with 5.6 a contest.
Michigan St. has Little Trouble with Iowa
Adam Ballinger had eight points in the first 2:55 as the Spartans took a 16-0 lead over the Hawkeyes. He finished 9-for-13 from the field, including 4-for-5 from beyond the 3-point line. Michigan State led 39-16 at the half and was up by 35 with less than four minutes left in its seventh win in the last nine league games. Alan Anderson added 14 points, Chris Hill had 11 and Kelvin Torbert 10, as the three perimeter players were 15-for-22 from the field. Iowa was 0-for-9 with nine turnovers before it finally made a basket with 11:23 left in the first half. Jared Reiner was the Hawkeyes’ lone bright spot with 17 points and a game-high seven rebounds. The Spartans outshot Iowa 60.5 percent to 20 percent in the first half and 57.4 percent to 35.3 percent for the game. Michigan State also had a 20-2 edge in fast-break points, largely due to its seven blocked shots and 14 steals in a smothering 3-2 zone defense.
Izzo Has 184 Wins on MSU Sidelines
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo has a record of 184-76 in his eight seasons as head coach at Michigan State. The Spartans are 17-11 overall and 9-6 in the Big Ten this season.
Williams Leads Buckeyes vs. MSU
Senior Brent Darby has played the most against Michigan State but junior Zach Williams is the leader offensively against the Spartans. Darby, a native of Detroit, Mich., has played seven games against Michigan State, the most of any of the current Buckeye players. He averages 8.1 points in 24.3 minutes per game vs. MSU. Williams averages 9.0 points and 4.2 rebounds against the Spartans in five games.
Ohio State Wins 10 Home Games for 5th Season in a Row
With the 73-68 win over Minnesota Feb. 5, Ohio State extended its steak to five years in which the Buckeyes have won at least 10 home games in a season. Ohio State is 11-3 this season with two remaining home contests against Iowa and Michigan State. Ohio State started the streak with a 14-1 home record in 1998-99. The Buckeyes were 15-2 in 1999-00, 14-3 in 2000-01 and 15-2 in 2001-02. The last time Ohio State put together five-consecutive seasons with 10 or more home wins was from 1985-1994, a stretch of 10 seasons with 10 or more victories in St. John Arena.
O’Brien Wins No. 350
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien has won 116 games in Columbus with the Buckeyes in six seasons. His career total of 351 wins includes 67 victories at St. Bonaventure and 168 victories at Boston College. With at least two games remaining this season, O’Brien has averaged 19.3 wins a season at Ohio State, which includes an 8-22 record his first season in Columbus and a school-record four-consecutive 20-win seasons heading into the 2002-03 campaign.
Early Leads Help Buckeyes
Ohio State has used early and late leads to its advantage this season. The Buckeyes are 11-3 in games when leading at the half. Ohio State also has been successful holding leads late in games. When leading with five minutes left in the second half, Ohio State is 14-0 on the year.
Connolly Reaches 1,000 Career Points with 13 at Penn State
Ohio State senior Sean Connolly needed 10 points to reach 1,000 for his collegiate career entering the game at Penn State. His third 3-pointer of the game at the 10:13 mark of the second half put him over the 1,000-point plateau. He finished with 13 points against the Nittany Lions. Connolly scored 330 points as a freshman at Providence College before making the move to Ohio State. In three seasons as a Buckeye he has scored 713 points to give him a career total of 1,043 heading into the game against Michigan State.
Dials Will Not Return in 2002-03, Fuss-Cheatham to Play Sparingly
Ohio State sophomore center Terence Dials will not return to the Ohio State lineup in 2002-03, Jim O’Brien, Ohio State head coach announced Feb. 11. Dials, who has not played since Dec. 18 at Pittsburgh, was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lumbar spine (level 2) in late December. He played in six games before the injury and will be eligible for a medical redshirt, giving him three remaining years of eligibility beginning in 2003-04. Sophomore guard Brandon Fuss-Cheatham also will not play much the remainder of the season to rest his injured left knee.
C. Bass Sees More Time off Bench
Freshman forward Charles Bass played just three minutes in four games before a career-high 20 minute game at Illinois. He followed that effort with a seven-minute outing at Penn State. In the last four games, Bass has given the Buckeyes quality minutes in the paint. He has 12 rebounds, six points and a pair of blocks in his last six games.
Radinovic Misses Gopher/Illinois Games
Junior center Velimir Radinovic missed games against Minnesota Feb. 5 and Illinois Feb. 9 with an injury to the little finger on his left hand. Radinovic watched the Ohio State win over the Golden Gophers from a hospital room, where he spent two nights as a precaution while receiving intravenous antibiotics. The injury occurred Feb. 4 during practice when an interior pass caused a compound dislocation near the tip of the left little finger. Because the small bone at the tip of the finger broke the skin and was exposed, Radinovic needed the extended hospital stay to avoid infection. He recorded his second double-double of his career with a 14-point, 12-rebound effort at Northwestern Wednesday.
Buckeyes Rebound with Road Win at Northwestern
Brent Darby made two free throws with 3.4 seconds to go and scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half as Ohio State beat Northwestern 52-48. Ohio State finished with a 49-29 edge in rebounding and held the Wildcats to just one field goal over the last 10:03. Ohio State has won nine in a row against Northwestern. Ohio State trailed 38-31 when Matt Sylvester made a pair of baskets to cut the deficit to three. Darby hit a 3-pointer and a fall-away jumper inside the 3-point line to cap an 11-0 run that gave the Buckeyes a 42-38 lead. Northwestern turned the ball over 15 times and shot 30 percent. Velimir Radinovic had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Ohio State. Both teams had trouble scoring in the first half. Northwestern held Ohio State scoreless for 6:06 in the first half to open up a 20-9 lead with 8:13 to go in the half. Jitim Young, the team’s leading scorer, hit a 3-pointer and scored eight-consecutive during the 11-0 spurt. Up by 11, Northwestern didn’t score the rest of the half. Winston Blake led Northwestern with 12 points and freshman T.J. Parker had 10 points.
Noting the Win at Northwestern
Junior center Velimir Radinovic recorded his second careerdouble-double, both against Northwestern, with 14 points and 12rebounds. His rebound total also was a career high. His sevenoffensive rebounds also were a career best. Senior Brent Darbymoved to the No. 22 spot all-time in career scoring with 17 atNorthwestern. He has tallied 1,252 career points at Ohio State. Hepassed Ohio State radio analyst Ron Stokes (1,240 pts./1982-85)against the Wildcats. Clark Kellogg is 21st with 1,285 points.Darby is No. 3 all time in 3-pointers made after knocking down apair at Northwestern. He has made 145 career treys, two behind No.2 Neshaun Coleman (147) and eight behind No. 1 Scoonie Penn (153).Darby and senior Sean Connolly are tied for ninth all-time insingle-season 3-pointers made with 47 made each this year. Darbyalso is No. 6 in single-season foul shots made (165) and No. 9 insingle-season foul shots attempted (207). Redshirt freshman MattSylvester recorded a career-high seven rebounds against theWildcats. The starting lineup of Matt Sylvester, Shun Jenkins,Velimir Radinovic, Sean Connolly and Brent Darby was the 12thdifferent group of starters this season. Ohio State is 14-0 thisseason when leading with five minutes remaining in the second half.Brent Darby has been to the foul line 10 or more times in ninegames this season. Ohio State has won its last nine games againstNorthwestern and is 103-46 all-time against the Wildcats.
Darby Among Big Ten Leaders
Senior Brent Darby is second in scoring among Big Ten players with 18.1 points per game behind Illinois’ Brian Cook (20.0). Darby also is No. 4 in assists (4.50 apg.) and No. 6 (tie) in steals (1.65 spg.).
Darby’s Scoring Average Highest Since 1999 Season
Brent Darby’s 18.1 points per game this season are the most by an Ohio State player since 1999 when Michael Redd averaged 19.1 points a game. Darby’s average this season is the third highest single season average since Jim Jackson averaged 22.4 points as a junior in 1991. Redd led all Big Ten scorers as a freshman with 21.9 points a game in 1998.
Darby Moves Up Scoring Chart
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 1,252 career points and is No. 22 all-time on the Ohio State scoring chart. Clark Kellogg is No. 21 with 1,285 career points from 1980-82. Sean Connolly has scored 1,043 career points, which includes 330 as 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 128 of 332 (.386) 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. 5 in 3-pointers made and No. 6 (tie) in attempts as well. Senior Brent Darby is No. 7 in 3-point shooting percentage (.365) and is No. 3 in made (145) and No. 4 in attempted (397) 3-pointers.
Darby, Connolly Get Little Pine Time
Senior guards Brent Darby and Sean Connolly rate No. 1 and 2 respectively in average minutes played per game among Big Ten players this season. Darby averages a team-high 38.0 minutes a game. Connolly plays 35.9 minutes a contest. Darby has played 40 or more minutes in 11 games, including seven of the last 15 contests. Connolly has not come out of five games and has played 39 in two others. He played a season-low 18 minutes against Minnesota Feb. 5.
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 nine games this season. He leads Ohio State in free throws made (165) and attempted (207). As a team, Ohio State has connected on 446 of 628 free throws for a .710 accuracy rating.
Darby Entering Several Foul Shooting Top 10 Lists
Senior Brent Darby has made 165 free throws this season. He rates No.6 in single season foul shots made at Ohio State. Gary Bradds connected on 183 in 1964 to rank No. 5. Dennis Hopson is the single season record holder with 215 made foul shots in 1987. Darby also could reach the Top 10 in career free throws made (355) with another five made free throws this season. Jerry Francis (1986-89) is No. 10 on the career list with 360 made free throws. Jerry Lucas is the career leader with 438 made over three seasons (1960-62). Hopson is second with 437 (1984-87). Darby’s 207 free throws attempted puts him at No. 9. Lucas made 208 in 1960-61 to hold the No. 8 spot.
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 446-628 (.710) 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 could 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.
Ohio State vs. The Big Ten Illinois 59-96 Indiana 68-95 Iowa 64-69 Michigan 82-69 Michigan State 45-55 Minnesota 72-51 Northwestern 103-44 Penn State 14-12 Purdue 71-78 Wisconsin 79-56 Totals 657-625
This Date In History
Ohio State is 3-8 in games played on March 8. Ohio State’s last game on this date was in 2002 when the Buckeyes clinched a share of the Big Ten regular season title at Michigan.
OSU on March 8
3/8/13 L @Northwestern 16-36 3/8/19 L Michigan 20-23 3/8/20 L Wisconsin 22-34 3/8/21 L @Wisconsin 24-34 3/8/26 L @Iowa 17-18 3/8/65 W Michigan 93-85(1) 3/8/69 W Michigan 95-86 3/8/75 L Michigan 64-83 3/8/86 L @Michigan State 81-91(19) 3/8/90 L @Indiana 66-77 3/8/02 W &-Michigan 75(21)-68
Five Foes Among Top 25 Teams in Polls
Ohio State has played six teams and seven games against teams currently ranked or receiving votes in the Associated Press or ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls. No. 7/7 Pittsburgh, No. 10/9 Duke, No. 14/14 Illinois, No. 15/15 Louisville and No. 24/24 Wisconsin all have faced the Buckeyes this season. Purdue is receiving votes in the AP Poll.
Key Buckeyes Miss 42 Games to Date With Various Injuries
Brandon Fuss-Cheatham (10 games), a sophomore point guard, Shun Jenkins (8), a junior forward, Terence Dials (20), a sophomore center, senior guard Sean Connolly (2) and junior center Velimir Radinovic (2) all 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 14 games with a stress fracture in his lumbar spine (level 2). He is out indefinitely. He last played against Pittsburgh Dec. 18. Connolly did not play at Michigan State or at Illinois while recovering from a left ankle sprains sustained Jan. 4 against Louisville and Feb. 1 vs. Northwestern. Radinovic suffered a compound dislocation to his left little finger Feb. 4 and missed the Minnesota game Feb. 5 and the Illinois game Feb. 9.
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 87 at Ohio State. Brent Darby has played in 116 games as a Buckeye with 74 career starts.
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 has 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 nearly 70 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 108-47 (.697) in the 155 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, finished in the Top 3 in the Big Ten regular season race all four years and won a pair of Big Ten regular season titles (2000 and 2002) and one Big Ten tournament crown (2002).
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. 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.
Buckeyes Fare Well vs. the Ranked at Value City Arena
No. 24 Purdue (W, 52-44/Feb. 22) was the 16th opponent to visit Value City Arena with an AP national ranking since the facility opened in 1998. Ohio State has won 13 of 16 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 69-12 (.852) in games played on the home floor since the building opened for the start of the 1998-99 campaign.
Ohio State vs. Ranked Opponents
The Buckeyes are 127-200 all-time against opponents ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. In the last five years, Ohio State has won 23 of 43 (.535) games against ranked foes.
