Buckeyes Continue Homestand, Host Belmont – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 13, 2005
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Date Dec. 14, 2005
Opponent Belmont (3-3)
Site Value City Arena (18,500)
Game Time 8 p.m.
Television ESPN Plus/ESPNU
Local TV WBNS TV
TV Talent Mike Gleason (P-by-P), Bill Hosket (Expert Analysis)
Radio OSU Radio Network (59 stations)
Local Radio WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent Paul Keels (P-by-P), Ron Stokes (Expert Analysis)
MATTA’S BUCKEYES ALREADY TAKING OVER 3-POINT SHOOTING RECORDS
In less than two full seasons as head coach of the Buckeyes, Thad Matta has put his mark in the OSU record book. Six of the Top 10 team 3-point shooting performances have been established in the last two years, including the Top 4 performances. Ohio State knocked down 18 treys in a double overtime loss at LSU last year to set the record for 3s made in a game at Ohio State. The Buckeyes made 17 vs. Chattanooga last November and then knocked down 15 at Clemson in early December a year ago. The No. 4 effort was put in the books last Monday when the Buckeyes connected on 14 of 32 3-point attempts. Ohio State made a dozen 3s vs. Iowa last year, the eighth most made in a game and the 11 made last Saturday at St. Joe’s ranks 10th. The 32 attempts vs. Norfolk State rank No. 3 all time for 3-pointers attempted by the Buckeyes in a game. Matta’s teams own 8 of the Top 10 spots for 3-pointers attempted in a game at OSU.
BUCKEYE OFFENSE CLICKS EARLY, FIVE AVERAGE DOUBLE DIGITS
Ohio State is averaging 80.4 points in the first five games of the season, including the most recent win, a 92-59 win vs. Norfolk State. Opponents average 62.0 ppg. The Buckeyes have made 51 percent of their field goals (133-259), while allowing opponents to make just 39 percent (118-301). From the foul line, Ohio State has taken 127 shots, making 91 (.717), while foes have gone to the line 67 times, making 43 (.642). The Buckeyes own the rebound advantage (37.0-29.8). Balance has been the norm with five players averaging 10 or more points a game. Je’Kel Foster, fresh from a career-high 24 points at St. Joseph’s, leads the team with 15.4 points a game. Ron Lewis (13.0 ppg.), Terence Dials (12.8 ppg.), Jamar Butler (10.5 ppg.) and J.J. Sullinger (11.0 ppg.) all follow. Sullinger averages 9.2 rebounds a game to pace the squad.
BUCKEYES SHOW BALANCE ACROSS THE BOARD
With five players averaging 10 or more points, the Buckeyes also show balance in other areas. Seven players have played 100 or more minutes with an average of 21.8 or more minutes a game. Six players have made 10 or more field goals, have taken 27 or more shots and made four or more 3-pointers while five have taken 11 or more treys. Five players connect on 73 percent or better from the foul line. Five Buckeyes have 11 or more assists with the leader, junior Sylvester Mayes, handing out 16.
OHIO STATE LOOKS TO MOVE TO 6-0
The Buckeyes, off to a 5-0 start, face Belmont with the chance to move to 6-0 for the first time since the 2001-02 season when the Buckeyes started the season 6-0 before a loss at Louisville (12/15). Ohio State has been 6-0 on 13 occasions all-time and nine times since 1950.
FOSTER TOPS BIG TEN LIST, AMONG TOP 10 NATIONALLY
Senior Je’Kel Foster is the top field goal shooter in the Big Ten Conference to date, connecting on 27 of 39 field goal attempts (.692), seventh-best nationally. He is second in 3-point shooting percentage, making 58.3 percent of his long-range shots, good for the No. 5 spot in the country. Foster has made 14 of 24 3-pointers.
As a team, Ohio State rates among the Top 2 teams in the Big Ten in several statistical categories. The Buckeyes lead the league in scoring margin (+18.4 ppg.). Ohio State is No. 2 in field goal percentage (.514/11th in the country), defensive rebounds (26.8 drpg.), rebounding defense (29.8 opp. rpg.), field goal percentage defense (.392), 3-point field goal percentage (.446), 3-point field goals made (9.0) and field goal percentage defense (.392). The Buckeyes are one of 19 teams still undefeated. Ohio State is No. 4 nationally in 3-point FG pct. (.446), 11th in FG pct. (.514). 17th in 3-pointers made per game (9.0).
HOT-HANDED GUARDS
The overall play of the four-man guard rotation has been consistent throughout the early going for the Buckeyes. Je’Kel Foster, Ron Lewis, Jamar Butler and Sylvester Mayes have made 69 of 124 shots from the field (.556) and 51 percent of their 3-point attempts (35-69). Foster leads the way making 69 percent of his field goals (27-39) and 58 percent from long range (14-24). Lewis also is shooting well at a 51 percent clip (19-37) from the field. The group also accounts for 50 of 81 assists and 28 of 39 steals to date.
DIALS CLIMBING SCORING CHART
Senior Terence Dials has 1,142 career points, good for the No. 29 spot all-time in scoring at Ohio State. He scored 509 points a season ago and with a similar season in 2005-06, Dials has a chance to crack the Top 10 all-time in career scoring. Robin Freeman (1954-56) scored 1,597 career points during his Ohio State career and is 10th all-time in OSU scoring annals. Dials needs 456 or more points to reach the Top 10. The most recent Buckeye to crack the Top 10 was Michael Redd, who currently plays for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. He finished his OSU career in 2000 with 1,879 career points.
DIALS CLOSE TO 700 CLUB
Senior Terence Dials is on track to become one of Ohio State’s Top 10 rebounders of all time. He has 653 boards and will become one of just 12 Buckeyes to reach the 700 mark with 47 more rebounds this season. If he reached the 253 total rebounds he grabbed as a junior, he will tie for the No. 5 spot all time with Clark Kellogg (1980-82) with 872. There are four players with 900 or more rebounds in Ohio State history led by Jerry Lucas (1960-62) with 1,411, a total reached in just three seasons. Herb Williams (1978-81) is No. 2 with 1,111. Perry Carter (989, 1988-91) and Bill Hosket (910, 1966-68) are the only other two players to record 900 or more career rebounds. Hosket’s total also was recorded in three years.
1,000 X 3
Ohio State’s roster could soon contain three players who have scored 1,000 or more points in their collegiate careers. Terence Dials already has accomplished the feat. His total stands at 1,142 points scored to date, good for 29th on the all-time list at OSU. Senior J.J. Sullinger has scored 941 career points. He played one season at Arkansas, scoring 273 points in 2001-02, and is now in his third year at Ohio State. Junior Ron Lewis, who transferred to Ohio State with 877 points to his credit after two seasons at Bowling Green, has a career total of 942, which includes 65 scored as a Buckeye.
BELMONT WINS 3 OF 6 TO START SEASON
Belmont will make its first trip to Columbus with a .500 record after winning three games in six outings to start the season. The Bruins fell to Middle Tennessee last Saturday (87-75) before their trip to Ohio State. Belmont opened the season with an 86-80 win vs. Wright State at home before road games at Chattanooga (W, 93-79) and Oklahoma (L, 81-59). The Bruins then claimed an overtime win at East Tennessee State (88-85) before a loss to Kennesaw State (91-87).
BRUINS SUCCESSFUL ON OFFENSE
Three Bruins average 15 or more points heading into action with the Buckeyes. Boomer Herndon, a junior center, contributes 15.7 points off the bench. Josh Goodwin, a junior guard from Pegram, Tenn., averages 15.8 ppg. and sophomore guard Justin Hare leads the team with 16.3 ppg. Herndon is the team’s leading rebounder with an average of 9.5 a game. The Bruins average about 25 3-point attempts a game, knocking down 38 percent of those attempts. The squad also hits on 47 percent of its field goals as well. Belmont averages 81.3 points a game.
OHIO STATE ON THIS DATE
The Buckeyes are 15-4 in games played on this date. Ohio State is on a six-game winning streak since an overtime loss to Arkansas in 1985.
| Date | W/L | Opponent | Score |
| 12/14/26 | W | Ohio University | 38-26 |
| 12/14/28 | W | Pennsylvania | 29-23 |
| 12/14/29 | W | Ohio University | 26-24 |
| 12/14/35 | W | Evansville | 38-21 |
| 12/14/39 | W | Wabash | 34-22 |
| 12/14/40 | L | Butler | 49-51 |
| 12/14/57 | L | Texas A&M | 69-72 |
| 12/14/68 | W | Harvard | 89(13)-74 |
| 12/14/74 | W | Ohio University | 96-87 |
| 12/14/77 | W | Cal. Poly-Pomona | 90-63 |
| 12/14/82 | L | @Syracuse | 85-91(16) |
| 12/14/83 | W | @Tulane | 80-57 |
| 12/14/85 | L | !vs. Arkansas (ot) | 70(20)-79 |
| 12/14/88 | W | Nebraska | 103(14)-76 |
| 12/14/91 | W | Howard | 114(4)-53 |
| 12/14/93 | W | Cal-Santa Barbara | 79-56 |
| 12/14/96 | W | George Mason | 102-72 |
| 12/14/98 | W | Tenn. Martin | 92-56 |
| 12/14/02 | W | Morehead State | 74-60 |
THE BELMONT SERIES
This will be the first meeting against the Belmont Bruins for Ohio State.
OHIO STATE VS. THE ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE
The Buckeyes have met current members of the Atlantic Sun Conference on eight previous occasions, all Ohio State wins. The Buckeyes last played a representative of the Atlantic Sun Dec. 22, 2004, a 102-77 win over Mercer in Columbus.
OSU vs. The Atlantic Sun
| Belmont | 0-0 |
| Campbell | 0-0 |
| East Tennessee St. | 2-0 |
| Florida Atlantic | 1-0 |
| Gardner-Webb | 0-0 |
| Jacksonville | 1-0 |
| Kennesaw State | 0-0 |
| Lipscomb | 0-0 |
| Mercer | 1-0 |
| North Florida | 0-0 |
| Stetson | 3-0 |
| Totals | 8-0 |
SEVEN ESPN PLUS OHIO STATE GAMES TO APPEAR ON ESPNU
ESPNU, an ESPN cable property which televises a variety of college sporting events, will carry seven Ohio State men’s basketball games this season, the Big Ten announced Nov. 22. The games will be produced by ESPN Regional Television and will be carried locally in Columbus on WBNS 10 TV as an originally scheduled ESPN Plus telecast. ESPN Plus games are typically carried by WOIO (CBS) or WAOH (independent) in Cleveland, Ohio; WHIO (CBS) or UPN 17 in Dayton, Ohio; and WYTV in Youngstown, Ohio, in addition to WBNS (CBS) in Columbus. The Buckeyes’ games added to ESPNU are Norfolk State (W 92-59, Dec. 12), Belmont (Dec. 14), Tennessee State (Dec. 23), Louisiana State (Dec. 31), at Penn State (Jan. 21), Florida A&M (Jan. 30) and Purdue (March 5).
OHIO STATE VS. NORFOLK STATE
J.J. Sullinger scored 15 points to lead six players in double figures, and Ohio State used runs before and after halftime to pull away for a 92-59 win over Norfolk State. Terence Dials had 13 points and led the Buckeyes with eight rebounds. Ron Lewis added 12 points, Je’Kel Foster had 11 and Jamar Butler and Ivan Harris each scored 10. Calvin Brown led the Spartans with 16 points and Tony Murphy had 12. Norfolk State didn’t have anyone else score in double figures and shot just 39 percent from the floor. Ohio State improved to 10-0 against teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and began a season with five wins for the first time since going 6-0 to start 2001-02. The Buckeyes closed the first half with a 14-2 surge and opened the second half on a 16-8 spurt to take a 53-30 lead with 15:39 remaining. Sullinger had five points in each run. Norfolk State got no closer than 17 points after that and trailed by as many as 36. Ohio State scored 55 points in the second half, partly because of a 10-of-20 performance from 3-point range. Ohio State finished 14-of-32 behind the arc, while Norfolk State was 4-of-12. The Buckeyes also had a large advantage at the foul line, making 24-of-30 while the Spartans went 9-of-16.
NOTING THE NORFOLK STATE GAME
* Ohio State entered the game ranked No. 25 in the most recent USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll released Dec. 12. The last time the Buckeyes appeared in the coaches’ poll was March 11, 2002 at No. 12.
* Exactly four years ago today, Dec. 12, 2001, Ohio State beat Santa Clara 88-41, which marked the last time the Buckeyes won by at least 33 points.
* Ohio State starts out 5-0 for the fourth time in the last 10 years (also 1995-96, 1998-99 and 2001-02). The last two times, the Buckeyes made it to the NCAA tournament and finished the season with single-digit losses.
* The last time six Buckeyes scored double-digit points in regulation was against Chicago State Nov. 11, 1991.
* The Buckeyes’ 92 points were the most scored this season. It is also the highest point total since Jan. 15, 2005 when OSU scored 101 in a double-overtime loss to LSU.
* Ohio State hit a season-high 14 3-pointers and for the second game this season hit double-digit 3s. The Buckeye made 11 treys at St. Joseph’s Dec. 10. The 14 3-pointers were the fourth-most scored in a single game in OSU history.
* The Buckeyes set a season-high with 15 offensive rebounds and grabbed 39 total to tie the season high.
* The Buckeyes have won the opening tips in all five games this season.
* The Spartans scored the first basket of the game at 18:45 for an early 2-0 lead marking the first time all season the Buckeyes have trailed. Ohio State scored at 18:17 to tie the game at 2-all. OSU has been tied four times in the first five games and has led or been tied for all but 28 seconds.
* All five of the Buckeyes averaging double points hit the two-figure mark in the game: Je’Kel Foster (16.5 avg./11 points), Ron Lewis (13.3 avg./12 points), Terence Dials (12.8 avg./13 points), Jamar Butler (10.7 avg./10 points) and J.J. Sullinger (10.0 avg./15 points).
* The Buckeyes have led by at least 13 points in all five games this season: Chicago State (33); Butler (13); Virginia Tech (22); St. Joseph’s (18); Norfolk State (36).
* Terence Dials scored 13 points for his fourth double-digit performance of the season. He now has 1,142 career points, good for the No. 29 spot in OSU history.
* With eight rebounds, Terence Dials has 653 for his career. He needs 47 more rebounds to become the 12th Buckeye to reach the 700-rebound plateau.
* Matt Terwilliger tied his career high with four rebounds and set a career high with 18 minutes.
* The Buckeyes are 14-2 when Je’Kel Foster hits three or more 3-pointers and 14-1 when he reaches 10 or more points.
* Jamar Butler set two career marks with seven assists and three 3-pointers. He now needs 12 assists to reach 100 as a Buckeye.
* Ron Lewis is the only Buckeye to score 10 or more points in all five games this season. He has reached double digits in eight-consecutive games dating back to his sophomore year at Bowling Green.
BUCKEYES CLOSE ON 100 Ws AT VCA
Ohio State is playing in its eighth season at Value City Arena in 2005-06. Since the facility opened for the 1998-99 campaign, the squad has won 95 of 117 games for a winning percentage of .812.
DON’T TOUCH THAT DIALS
Senior center Terence Dials is the top returning scorer for the Buckeyes. He led the team with nearly 16 points and eight rebounds a game a season ago. He was able to post those numbers despite Ohio State setting numerous Top 10 individual and team 3-point shooting records. Dials has improved his scoring and rebounding numbers in each of his seasons at Ohio State. He reached 500 points and 250 rebounds for the season as a junior and eclipsed 1,000 points and 600 boards for his career.
A JOLT TO THE OFFENSE
Ohio State lost 12.0 points a game with the graduation (sociology) of Tony Stockman. In his roster spot enters Ron Lewis, a transfer from Bowling Green, who led the Falcons with an average of 17.0 points a contest as a sophomore. He will have two years of eligibility with the Buckeyes.
Lewis scored 877 points in two years at BGSU. He was a prolific foul shooter during his tenure at Bowling Green, knocking down 81 percent (340-420) of his free throws in his two-year career. Despite his ability to score, Lewis set up his teammates with 164 assists while recording 60 steals in 60 games as a Falcon.
ADDED “O” PART II
Ron Lewis is expected to add a threat offensively but he is not the only addition known to put the ball in the cylinder. Sylvester Mayes averaged 19.6 points at Redlands (Okla.) Community College a year ago. The 6-foot guard from South Bend, Ind., scored 609 points, 17th nationally in the junior college ranks, as a sophomore. His teams won 59 games with just six losses the last two seasons. Mayes also added 88 assists, 96 rebounds and 91 steals (22nd nationally) last year. Mayes scored 11 points and dished out nine assists in his Ohio State debut vs. Chicago State Nov. 20.
Brayden Bell, a freshman from Salt Lake City, Utah, also is expected to give the Buckeyes a lift offensively. Despite his 6-foot-8-inch, 255-pound frame, Bell has demonstrated an ability to step away from the basket to knock down the 3-pointer and mid-range jumper. He averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds as a Brighton High School senior a year ago.
A PAIR OF FIRST TEAMERS
Sylvester Mayes was a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First Team All-American for Redlands Community College as a sophomore. He shot 51 percent from the field (201-397), 42 percent from 3-point range (68-164) and 77 percent from the foul line (139-181) in leading Redlands to a 27-4 record in 2004-05. He is one of two first team NJCAA All-Americans on the Ohio State roster. Je’Kel Foster earned the same recognition before joining the Buckeyes a year ago. Foster played at Chipola (Fla.) Junior College. Last year, Foster averaged 7.7 points a game for Ohio State while knocking down 43 percent of his 3-point attempts (62-145). He added 78 assists and 43 steals as well. He also grabbed 104 rebounds. His all-around effort earned him a starting spot the final 12 games of the season, helping Ohio State to a 20-12 overall record.
TOP 5 OF 6
Though Matta is looking forward to the newcomers and their possible contributions, he has not overlooked the return of five of the top six scorers from last season. Senior Terence Dials, a candidate for first team All-Big Ten honors this year, is the top returning scorer at 15.9 points a game. The 6-9 center also is the team’s top returning rebounder with an average of 7.9 a contest. Also back are senior guard J.J. Sullinger (9.7 ppg./5.4 rpg.), senior wing Matt Sylvester (8.0 ppg.), senior guard Je’Kel Foster (7.7 ppg.) and junior wing Ivan Harris (7.3 ppg.). In all, Ohio State returns 74 percent of its offense and 81 percent of its rebounding.
MATTA GOES FOR 6TH 20
Thad Matta doesn’t know what it’s like to end a season with fewer than 20 wins during his head coaching career. The second year Ohio State coach came to the Buckeyes with a streak of four 20+ win seasons at Butler (24 wins in 2001) and Xavier (26 in all three years from 2002-04). With 20 victories a year ago at Ohio State, Matta is one of two coaches nationally to record 20 or more wins in the first five seasons of his coaching career. Mark Few of Gonzaga is the other with 20+ in all six years with the Bulldogs.
CLOSING ON 2 MILLION
For the seventh-consecutive season, all of which played at Value City Arena, Ohio State finished among the Top 18 teams nationally in average attendance in 2004-05. The Buckeyes averaged 13,850 fans in 16 home games at VCA. Overall, in 117 games at VCA, a total of 1,903,639 fans, 16,270 per game, have helped the Buckeyes to a record of 95-22 at the facility. Ohio State will exceed the 2 million mark in home attendance at VCA during the 2005-06 season when fan No. 146,962 enters the building. The Buckeyes have won 14 or more home games in five of the seven years at VCA and 11 or more in six of seven.
OHIO NATIVES DOMINATE BUCKEYE ROSTER
Eight of the 11 players on the roster this year chose to stay in state, play for the Buckeyes and pursue their education in Columbus. Seniors Terence Dials (Youngstown), Matt Sylvester (Cincinnati), J.J. Sullinger (Columbus); juniors Ron Lewis (Columbus) and Ivan Harris (Springfield); sophomores Jamar Butler (Lima) and Matt Terwilliger (Troy) and freshman Samuel Payne (Columbus) all played high school basketball for their hometown teams in Ohio.
RANKED TEAMS ABUNDANT ON OSU SCHEDULE IN 2005-06
The Buckeyes are scheduled to face several teams ranked in the USA Today/ESPN and the Associated Press polls this season. Michigan State (No. 14 in USA Today/No. 14 in AP), Illinois (11/11), Iowa (13/12) and Indiana (16/18) will face the Buckeyes, who are just outside the Top 25 rankings in 30th place (USA Today) with 29 votes and 30th in the AP with 54. Other teams receiving votes in the preseason polls scheduled to face Ohio State this year are: Wisconsin, Michigan, LSU and Iowa State. The Buckeyes play 11 games against the eight teams on the 2005-06 schedule in the Top 25 or receiving preseason votes.
BUCKEYES LOOK TO ELDERS
Terence Dials, J.J. Sullinger and Matt Sylvester are the Top 3 returning scorers for Ohio State. The three have been in Columbus a combined total of 14 years entering the 2005-06 season. All were fifth-year seniors when school started in September. Both Dials and Sylvester have spent all five years at Ohio State with each missing a season with injury. Dials sat out most of the 2002-03 season with a back ailment while Sylvester missed the majority of 2001-02 with leg and back injuries. Sullinger played one year at Arkansas before leaving for Ohio State. He sat out the 2002-03 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. In addition to these three, Je’Kel Foster again will be a significant contributor in 2005-06. He too is a senior with three years playing experience, two at the junior college level and one season in Columbus.
UNDERCLASSMEN WILL GET A SHOT
With experience throughout the roster this year, Ohio State’s returning underclassmen still will get opportunities to perform. Sophomore Jamar Butler started the final 12 games of the season at the point position and is the early leader to run the Ohio State offense this year. Matt Terwilliger, a reserve post player a year ago, has bulked up in the offseason. He will work with newcomer Brayden Bell to add depth in the post behind Dials.
2007 NCAA TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO COLUMBUS
The NCAA tournament will return to Columbus for the opening rounds of the 2007 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the organization announced in July 2004. Ohio State played host to the first and second rounds in March 2004, as it will in 2007. Games were played at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus, which will again be the site of the event in 2007.
