Buckeyes Open Four-Game Homestand, Take On Tennessee State – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2005
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Date Dec. 23, 2005
Opponent Tennessee State (2-3)
Site Value City Arena (18,500)
Game Time 8 p.m. EST
Television ESPN Plus/ESPNU
Local TV WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent 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)
BUCKEYES ENTER BOTH AP AND COACHES POLLS
Ohio State cracked the Associated Press Top 25 this week for the first time since March of 2002 when the Buckeyes finished the season rated No. 14. The Buckeyes are currently No. 24 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes are 310-100 (.756) when playing as a ranked team in the AP poll. Ohio State has cracked the poll at least once in 28 seasons since its first appearnace in 1948-49. The Buckeyes are 28-4 overall and 8-1 vs. non-conference foes at Value City Arena when ranked by AP. The only loss was a 59-54 setback to Notre Dame in the opening round of the 1999 preseason National Invitation Tournament. OSU was No. 4 in that Nov. 16 game vs. the Fighting Irish.
FOSTER EARNS NATIONAL, LEAGUE HONORS AFTER 3-0 WEEK FOR OSU
Senior Je’Kel Foster averaged 18 points over three wins over Norfolk State (12/12), Belmont (12/14) and Iowa State (12/17) to earn Sporting News national player of the week honors (Dec. 11-17). Foster also was the Big Ten player of the week after knocking down 63 percent of his field goals (17-27) and 58 percent (11-19) of his 3-point FG tries for the week. His 28 points, on 9 of 12 shooting from the field and 6 of 8 from 3-point range, set a career high vs. Iowa State in a neutral-site contest vs. the Cyclones in Des Moines, Iowa. Foster leads Ohio State with 17.1 points a game and is the Big Ten leader in field goal shooting percentage at .683 (41-60) and 3-pointers made per game (3.14). He is second in 3-point shooting percentage at .585, making 22 of 37 attempts. Foster leads the Buckeyes with 14 steals and has made a team best 84 percent of his foul shots (16-19).
BUCKEYES SET 3-POINT SHOOTING RECORD IN WIN VS. IOWA STATE
Ohio State connected on 10 of 22 3-point attempts vs. Iowa State last Saturday to give the team 10 or more made 3-pointers in four-consecutive games, a first for the Buckeyes. Ohio State made 10 of 19 vs. Belmont (Dec. 14), 11 of 19 treys at St. Joe’s (Dec. 10) to start the current streak and then knocked down 14 of 32 against Norfolk State Dec. 12. Ohio State has made 10 or more from beyond the arc in back-to-back games just six times dating back to the 1986-87 season, the first campaign for the 3-point shot. Opponents have connected on 10+ treys in three-consecutive games or more twice, with both streaks coming during the 1997-98 season. USC (13 of 33), Chattanooga (11 of 25), Kansas (10 of 25) and New Mexico State (16 of 39) set the record with four-consecutive games with 10+ 3-pointers vs. the Buckeyes between Dec. 20 and Dec. 29, 1997. Michigan (10 of 21), Iowa (10 of 24) and Penn State (10 of 22) turned in a streak of three games later that season between Feb. 11 and Feb. 16, 1998. Ohio State and opponents have hit 10 or more 3s in the same game on four occasions. Belmont connected on 10 of 18 in the loss to the Buckeyes Dec. 14. Ohio State is 3-1 in those games. In all, the Buckeyes are 26-5 in the 31 games when scoring on 10 or more 3s while opponents are 29-28 in 57 games with double digits treys made.
OSU 3-pt. Shooting Streak
| Opp. | 3 FG-A | Pct. | W/L, Score | Date |
| St. Joe’s | 11-19 | .539 | W, 81-74 | 12/10 |
| Norfolk St. | 14-32 | .438 | W, 92-59 | 12/12 |
| Belmont | 10-19 | .526 | W, 85-75 | 12/14 |
| Iowa St. | 10-22 | .455 | W, 70-67 | 12/17 |
| Totals | 45-92 | .489 |
LEWIS GIVES BUCKEYES OFFENSIVE SPARK OFF BENCH
In the first seven games, Ohio State has had 30 double figure games for an average of 4.3 players per game with 10 or more points. Ron Lewis has scored in double digits in all seven games this season to lead the Buckeyes in double-digit outings. He has scored 10 or more off the bench five times this season. Je’Kel Foster has six games with 10 or more points with Terence Dials adding five.
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 eight of the Top 10 spots for 3-pointers attempted in a game at OSU. His teams have made 10 or more 3s in a game 13 times and have a 10-3 record in those games. Matta’s opponents at Ohio State have made 10 or more just three times and are 1-2 in those games.
BUCKEYE OFFENSE CLICKS EARLY, FOUR AVERAGE DOUBLE DIGITS
Ohio State is averaging 79.6 points in the first seven games of the season, including the most recent win, a 70-67 win vs. Iowa State. Opponents average 64.6 ppg. The Buckeyes have made 50 percent of their field goals (184-368), while allowing opponents to make just 42 percent (176-423). From the foul line, Ohio State has taken 171 shots, making 124 (.725), while foes have gone to the line 90 times, making 57 (.633). The Buckeyes own the rebound advantage (36.2-30.3). Balance has been the norm with four players averaging 10 or more points a game. Je’Kel Foster, fresh from a career-high 28 points against Iowa State, leads the team with 17.1 points a game. Ron Lewis (12.7 ppg.), Terence Dials (11.6 ppg.) and J.J. Sullinger (12.1 ppg.) all follow. Sullinger averages 9.3 rebounds a game to pace the squad.
MATTA IMPROVES TO 18-3 IN NON-CONFERENCE GAMES AT OSU
Ohio State won 11 of 14 non-Big Ten Conference games in 2004-05, the first season at OSU for head coach Thad Matta. With the 7-0 start to date in non-conference action in 2005-06, Matta improved to 18-3 against non-league foes. The Buckeyes are 14-0 in Columbus and 13-0 in Value City Arena under Matta’s direction. Ohio State defeated Chattanooga 84-67 in St. John Arena, the former home of the Buckeyes on the OSU campus, a year ago. Ohio State is 8-1 in the month of November with Matta at the helm and 10-1 in December.
OHIO STATE LOOKS TO MOVE TO 8-0
The Buckeyes, off to a 7-0 start, face Tennessee State with the chance to move to 8-0 for the first time since the 1990-91 season when the Buckeyes started the season 17-0 before a loss at Michigan State (1/31/91). Ohio State has been 8-0 on five occasions all-time.
HOT-HANDES 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 94 of 174 shots from the field (.540) and 50 percent of their 3-point attempts (50-100). Foster leads the way making 68 percent of his field goals (41-60) and 60 percent from long range (22-37). The group also accounts for 68 of 111 assists and 37 of 57 steals to date.
DIALS CLIMBING SCORING CHART
Senior Terence Dials has 1,159 career points, good for the No. 28 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 439 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 CLASE TO 700 CLUB
Senior Terence Dials is on track to become one of Ohio State’s Top 10 rebounders of all time. He has 667 boards and will become one of just 12 Buckeyes to reach the 700 mark with 33 more rebounds this season. If he reaches 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 1,159 points scored to date, good for 28th on the all-time list at OSU. Senior J.J. Sullinger has scored 971 career points. He played one season at Arkansas, scoring 273 points in 2001-02, and now is 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 966, which includes 89 scored as a Buckeye.
TIGERS 2-3 TO START SEASON
The Tennessee State Tigers have played just five games heading into its game at Ohio State. TSU opened the season with a 72-63 win against Fisk before losses to Southeast Missouri, 70-69, and Georgia Tech, 82-72. The Tigers then won at Eastern Illinois 84-68 before falling to Southern Mississippi on the road Monday (84-74). After the home game vs. Fisk, Tennessee State’s schedule takes them on the road for six-consecutive games. After the game with the Buckeyes, the Tigers travel to Iowa State, who fell to Ohio State Dec. 17 in Des Moines, Iowa, 70-67.
JUNIOR GUARD LEADS FOUR TIGERS IN DOUBLE DIGITS
Bruce Price, a junior guard from Minneapolis, Minn., leads Tennessee State offensively with 20.4 points a game. A total of 48 of his 102 points have come from the foul line where he is connecting on 74 percent of his 65 attempts. Three others – senior guard Wayne Arnold (13.2 ppg.), forward Clarence Matthews (14.0 ppg.) and senior forward Kareem Grant (14.2 ppg.) – average double figures for the Tigers. Wayne (98.0 rpg.) and Matthews (7.2 rpg.) lead the team in rebounding.
OHIO STATE ON THIS DATE
The Buckeyes are 13-8 in games played on this date. Ohio State has won the last two games on this date and eight of the last 10 games before the Christmas Holiday.
| Date | W/L | Opponent | Score |
| 12/23/99 | W | Central High | 34-4 |
| 12/23/16 | L | @Miami (O) | 23-24 |
| 12/23/38 | L | @Washington | 37-51 |
| 12/23/44 | L | @Kentucky (ot) | 48-53 |
| 12/23/46 | L | @Washington | 46-52 |
| 12/23/49 | W | California | 78-67 |
| 12/23/50 | W | St. Louis | 65-55 |
| 12/23/57 | L | @Oklahoma | 55-64 |
| 12/23/61 | W | Penn State | 92(1)-49 |
| 12/23/63 | W | Houston | 79-62 |
| 12/23/65 | L | Kansas | 68-81 |
| 12/23/66 | W | Army | 61-59 |
| 12/23/71 | W | Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 78(6)-63 |
| 12/23/74 | W | Georgia Tech | 75-66 |
| 12/23/80 | W | Princeton | 72-46 |
| 12/23/93 | W | vs. Boston College | 69-67(18) |
| 12/23/96 | L | @San Diego State | 75-81 |
| 12/23/98 | W | Mississippiv67-62 | |
| 12/23/00 | L | Kansas | 68-69(9) |
| 12/23/02 | W | Radford | 96-80 |
| 12/23/03 | W | Eastern Illinois | 69-50 |
THE TENNESSEE STATE SERIES
Ohio State is 2-0 in the series with the Tigers. Both games were played in Columbus. The first contest between the schools took place Dec. 17, 1990, a 103-66 Buckeye victory. That game was the seventh win to start the season on the way to a 17-0 start that year. The Buckeyes are 7-0 to date this season. Ohio State and the Tigers last met in 2002 on Dec. 28. The Buckeyes won that game 94-73.
OHIO STATE VS. THE OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE
The Buckeyes are 16-0 vs. Ohio Valley Conference teams all-time. Ohio State has met each member school except Austin Peay, Jacksonville State and Southeast Missouri State. Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State and Tennessee Tech each have faced OSU three times with Eastern Illinois, and Tennessee State squaring off with the Buckeyes twice. Single meetings have come against Murray State, Samford and Tennessee Martin.
OSU vs. The OVC
| Austin Peay | 0-0 |
| Eastern Illinois | 2-0 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 3-0 |
| Jacksonville State | 0-0 |
| Morehead State | 3-0 |
| Murray State | 1-0 |
| Samford | 1-0 |
| Southeast Missouri St | 0-0 |
| Tennessee Martin | 1-0 |
| Tennessee State | 2-0 |
| Tennessee Tech | 3-0 |
| Totals | 16-0 |
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 (W 85-75, 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 DOWNS IOWA STATE BEHIND FOSTER
Je’Kel Foster scored a career-high 28 points and Ohio State went on an 18-7 run down the stretch to beat Iowa State 70-67, giving the Buckeyes seven-consecutive wins to open the season for the first time since 1990-91. The victory capped a stretch of four games in eight days – and three different cities. Down 60-52 with 6:39 left, Ohio State rallied and retook the lead, 63-62, with 1:35 left on a layup by Ron Lewis. Foster made two free throws to put the Buckeyes ahead 65-64, and Will Blalock missed a runner on Iowa State’s ensuing possession. Jamar Butler’s free throws pushed the lead to 67-64. Ohio State hasn’t been unbeaten after seven games since that 1990-91 team, led by Jim Jackson, started 17-0 and reached as high as No. 2 in the rankings. Ohio State led by three following a 16-6 run to open the second half. But the Cyclones responded with a 10-0 run and went back on top 55-48. The Cyclones finished the first half on an 8-2 run to take a 39-32 lead. Iowa State shot 61 percent in the first half and freshman Shawn Taggart, who scored just two points in Iowa State’s last two games, led the charge with 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field. Foster went 4-for-5 from 3-point range in the first half to lead the Buckeyes. Curtis Stinson led Iowa State with 17 points, and Taggart added 13. Lewis scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Ohio State.
NOTING THE IOWA STATE GAME
* Ohio State is now 4-0 all-time vs. Iowa State and 21-23 against teams representing the Big 12 Conference. The Buckeyes have defeated the last two Big 12 teams they’ve faced, Texas Tech in 2004-05 and Iowa State. Both games were won on neutral courts.
* After using three different starting lineups the first three games of the season, Ohio State has stayed with the same starting five in each of the last five games.
* Ohio State starts out 7-0 for the first time since the 1990-91 season. Ohio State started 17-0 that year. The Buckeyes have started 7-0 or better nine times in history.
* The Buckeyes have grabbed at least 30 total rebounds every game this season.
* Ohio State has held opponents under 50 percent shooting the entire season.
* Terence Dials scored 14 points to give him 1,159 for his career, good for the No. 28 spot all time at Ohio State. He also had seven rebounds to increase his career total to 667. He needs just 33 to become the 12th Buckeye to reach the 700-rebound plateau.
* Je’Kel Foster scored a career high 28 points on 9 of 12 shooting from the field and 6 of 8 from 3-point range. He also knocked down all four of his foul shots.
* With 13 points in the game, Ron Lewis has scored 10-plus points in all seven games this season.
* Jamar Butler was credited with five assists and has dished out 19 in the last three games. He reached 100 for his Buckeye career.
* The Buckeyes now are 16-2 when Je’Kel Foster hits three or more 3-pointers and 16-1 when he reaches 10 or more points. Foster tied his career high with 6 made treys vs. the Cyclones.
* Ohio State knocked down 10 of 22 3-point attempts to give the Buckeyes four-consecutive games with at least 10 made 3s, setting a school record. Ohio State is 26-5 all-time when making 10 or more 3-pointers in a game.
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 96 of 118 games for a winning percentage of .813.
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.
RANKED TEAMS ABUNDANT ON OSU SCHEDULE IN 2005-06
The Buckeyes are scheduled to face several teams currently ranked in the USA Today/ESPN and the Associated Press polls this season. Michigan State (No. 11 in USA Today/No. 10 in AP), Illinois (6/6), Iowa (25 in AP) and Indiana (17/18) will face the Buckeyes, who are in the Top 25 rankings in 22nd place (USA Today)and No. 24 in the AP Top 25. Other teams receiving votes in the polls scheduled to face Ohio State this year are: Wisconsin, who is ranked No. 23 this week in the USA Today/ESPN Poll and is receiving votes in the AP poll, Michigan and LSU.
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 118 games at VCA, a total of 1,916,579 fans, 16,242 per game, have helped the Buckeyes to a record of 96-22 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.
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.
