Ohio State Travels To Iowa to Face The Hawkeyes – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 1, 2005
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Date March 2, 2005
Opponent Iowa (18-8, 7-8)
Site Carver-Hawkeye Arena (15,500)
Game Time 8 p.m.
TV ESPN Plus
Local TV WBNS Ch. 10
TV Talent Larry Morgan, (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)
Dials Reaches 1,000 Career Points
Ohio State junior center Terence Dials passed the 1,000 career point plateau with 20 points against Wisconsin Feb. 27. He has 1,010 points for his career. He became the 42nd player in Ohio State history to score 1,000 career points in an OSU uniform. The last player to reach 1,000 points was Brent Darby during the 2002-03 campaign. He finished his career with 1,368 career points, good for the No. 20 spot in OSU career scoring history.
Matta Among Best 1st-Year OSU Coaches
The victory over Indiana (Feb. 15) gave the Buckeyes 18 on the season, the first for rookie head coach Thad Matta. Gary Williams, who coached at Ohio State from 1987-89, owns the record with 20 wins for a first-year coach at Ohio State. Matta, the 13th head coach in Ohio State history, is in sole possession of second place for wins by a first-year coach at OSU. The win over the Hoosiers broke a three-way tie with Matta, George M. Trautman (1920-22) and Randy Ayers (1990-1997), each with 17 wins in their first season at Ohio State.
Yr. 1 Big Coach Yrs. Rcd. Ten Gary Williams 1987-89 20-13 9-9 Thad Matta 2005- 18-10 7-7 Randy Ayers 1990-97 17-13 10-8 G.M. Trautman 1920-22 17-10 3-9 Fred R. Taylor 1959-76 11-11 7-7 Thomas Kibler 1909-10 11-1 NA Jim O’Brien 1998-2004 8-22 1-15 Eldon Miller 1977-86 8-18 4-14 W.H.H. Dye 1947-50 7-13 5-7 L. W. St. John 1912-19 7-5 NA Floyd S. Stahl 1951-58 6-16 3-11 D.C. Huddleson 1903-04 5-2 NA Harold G. Olsen 1923-46 4-11 1-11
Finale vs. Illinois Set for Noon, CBS
No. 1 Illinois and Ohio State will square off in the regular-season finale for both teams at noon EST March 6 on CBS. The telecast will be the national game during the noon-2 p.m. time slot. Ohio State is 14-2 at home this season and 13-2 in Value City Arena. Ohio State is 3-1 at VCA vs. the Illini, including a pair of victories over ranked Illini squads. The Buckeyes are 8-0 against ranked Big Ten teams at VCA when the facility is sold out. In all games, the Buckeyes are 13-4 against ranked Big Ten teams at VCA, including a 2-1 record vs. Illinois.
Ohio State Retires Havlicek’s No. 5
John Havlicek, who lettered from 1960-62 for the Ohio State men’s basketball team and later starred for the NBA’s Boston Celtics, was back on campus Feb. 27 to celebrate the retirement of his No. 5 jersey. Havlicek helped the Buckeyes to three-consecutive trips to the NCAA Final Four and three national championship games during his career. The Buckeyes won the 1960 NCAA title and were runners-up in 1961 and 1962. As a Buckeye, Havlicek scored 1,223 points (14.6 ppg.) and grabbed 720 rebounds (8.6 rpg). He ranks 25th all-time in career scoring at Ohio State and is one of just 41 players all-time to score more than 1,000 points. The Buckeyes were 78-6 during his career. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and a first-team All-American as a senior in 1962. A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., Havlicek made nearly 51 percent of his shots from the field and 73 percent of his free throws at OSU. As a senior, he averaged 17.0 points and almost 10 rebounds a game. Havlicek is the fourth Ohio State men’s basketball player to have his number retired. He joins No. 11 Jerry Lucas (Feb. 23, 2000), No. 35 Gary Bradds (Jan. 27, 2001) and No. 22 Jim Jackson (Feb. 10, 2001).
Ohio State 90-22 at VCA
The Buckeyes began season No. 7 at Value City Arena Nov. 15 against Towson in the opening round of the Guardians Classic. The facility opened for the start of the 1998-99 season and since then the Buckeyes have built a record of 90-22 in 112 home games. The Buckeyes have not had a home losing season in the VCA’s existence and have 11 or more wins in five of the six years to date, including 15 victories in 1999-2000 and 2001-02 and 14 wins in both 1998-99 and 2000-01. Ohio State is 14-2 at home in 2004-05 and 13-2 at VCA. The team played Chattanooga at St. John Arena earlier this year.
Ohio State Tops 2004 Big Ten Win Total
Ohio State’s home win over Indiana Feb. 15 gave Ohio State seven wins in Big Ten Conference play. Ohio State finished the 2004 Big Ten season with a 6-10 record after a 7-9 finish in 2003. Ohio State has two Big Ten regular-season games remaining in 2005.
Buckeyes Drive Toward 20th 20-Win Season
Ohio State last had a 20-win season in 2001-02 with a 24-8 mark. The Buckeyes recorded 17 and 14 wins the following two seasons, respectively, and are 18-10 to date this year. The Buckeyes have had 19 seasons with 20 or more wins in the history of the program. Thad Matta could become just the second head coach in Ohio State history to record a 20-win campaign in his first season on the job. Current Maryland head coach Gary Williams was 20-13 in his first year at Ohio State in 1987.
Ohio State Rated 12th Best Program in College Basketball by Street & Smith’s
In a recent special edition of Street & Smith’s, the magazine rates Ohio State as the 12th best NCAA college basketball program of all-time. Several categories were used to rate programs across the country. The Buckeyes’ NCAA tournament appearances (22), Final Four appearances (9), NCAA tournament wins (37), conference championships (17, 10 outright) and NBA first-round draft picks (14) all were factored in, among other criteria. Ohio State was second only to Indiana (rated No. 6) among the eight Big Ten teams among the Top 100 programs. None of the listed league schools was rated lower than No. 55 by the magazine.
TD Doing a Double Take
Ohio State opponents have watched junior Terence Dials score in double figures in 20 of the last 23 games this season and in 22 of 28 games on the year. The 6-foot-9-inch center from Youngstown, Ohio, also has eight games with 10 or more rebounds on the year. In his career, Dials has 10 career games with 10 or more points and rebounds, with seven of the double-doubles recorded this season. Dials is the first player since Shaun Stonerook (eight in 1996-97) to record seven double-doubles in the same season. Dials also is the first since Stonerook to post eight or more career double-doubles. Stonerook had 11 career double-doubles.
Buckeyes Stay in the Game, Avoid DQs
Five Ohio State players have fouled out of the 28 games to date this season and none more than once. A year ago, a total of 22 players were disqualified with five fouls in a game. J.J. Sullinger was DQ’d eight times as a sophomore while Terence Dials found himself on the bench four times. Both have reached the maximum of five fouls in a game just once this year to date. As a team, Ohio State averages 16.5 fouls a game this year. The squad was whistled for an average of 19.6 fouls a contest in 2003-04.
Dials’ 20 Not Enough vs. Badgers
Alando Tucker scored 19 points and No. 20 Wisconsin relied on defense and 3-point shooting to beat Ohio State 64-56 Sunday. Mike Wilkinson added 14 points for the Badgers. Terence Dials had 20 points to lead Ohio State. After going 7-of-9 from the field and scoring 16 points in the first half, Dials made his first shot of the second half and then never got another one over the final 18 minutes. Ohio State got no closer than eight points in the second half. Dials finished 8-of-10 from the field while his teammates were a combined 12-of-40. Wisconsin led 21-19 with six minutes left in the first half before Tucker hit two 3-pointers and Michael Flowers added another on consecutive possessions for a 30-22 lead. Ahead 37-27 at halftime, the Badgers stretched the lead to 15 points after Dials scored for Ohio State.
Noting the Wisconsin Game
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Wisconsin 80-60,including a 50-20 mark against the Badgers in Columbus. TheBuckeyes are 3-3 against Wisconsin in Value City Arena. TheBuckeyes are 13-2 in Value City Arena and are 14-2 overall in gamesplayed in Columbus this season. Ohio State is 90-22 all-time inVCA. Ohio State is 130-212 all-time against ranked opponents,including a 1-3 mark against ranked opponents this season. AgainstWisconsin, junior center Terence Dials became Ohio State’s 42ndplayer to reach 1,000 points. Dials needed 10 points heading intothe game and a free throw with 10:21 left in the first half gaveDials his 1,000th point. Dials finished the game with 20 points.The last player to reach 1,000 points was former Buckeye BrentDarby during the 2002-03 season. Dials has scored in double figuresin 22 games for Ohio State this season, including the lastseven-consecutive games. He tallied 16 points in the first halfagainst the Badgers. It also marks his 10th 20-point game of theseason and the 12th of his career. Junior guard Je’Kel Fostertallied a career-high five assists, with all five coming in thefirst half. His previous personal-best was four, which he hadseveral times. Ohio State attempted 22 3-pointers in the game,hitting five. The Buckeyes have attempted 630 on the year in 28games, breaking the old record of 611 set by the 1998-99 squad in36 games. During a halftime ceremony, Ohio State officially retiredJohn Havlicek’s No. 5 jersey. Joining Havlicek in the ceremony wasformer head coach Fred Taylor’s wife, Eileen, and former sportsinformation director and longtime radio voice of the Buckeyes MarvHoman. Havlicek was accompanied by his wife, Beth, and theirchildren Chris Havlicek and Jill Buchanan. Also joining Havlicekwas Chris’ fiancee, Kim Boger, and Jill’s son, Walker. Havlicek’sNo. 5 jersey joins Jerry Lucas’ No. 11, Jim Jackson’s No. 22 andGary Bradds’ No. 35 as the only men’s basketball retired jerseys tohang from the rafters of Value City Arena.
Buckeyes Excel on Home Court
Ohio State is 14-2 in Columbus this season and 13-2 at Value City Arena. The other victory was against Chattanooga at St. John Arena, the former home of the Buckeyes, earlier this season. Ohio State’s only home loss was in overtime (60-56) to Minnesota Jan. 19. Ohio State has won 11 or more games at Value City Arena in six of the seven seasons since the facility opened for the 1998-99 campaign.
Dials Leads Team With 12 Career Games with 20 or More Points
Tony Stockman’s 22 points in the win against No. 14 Iowa (1/8/05) gave him 10 games with 20 or more points as a Buckeye. He trails Terence Dials, who scored 20 points vs. Wisconsin (2/27/05) for his 12th career 20-point game. Dials has scored 20 or more points in 10 games this season to lead the team.
Ohio State vs. Ranked Foes
Overall, Ohio State is 130-212 all-time against ranked opponents and 54-106 against Top 10 teams after facing No. 1 Illinois (1/5/05). The Buckeyes fell to 6-9 vs. No. 1 teams following the loss to the Illini, breaking a four-game win streak vs. top-ranked teams. No. 14 Iowa fell in Columbus at Value City Arena Jan. 8 (81-69) and the Buckeyes fell to No. 13 Michigan State (Feb. 9) and No. 20 Wisconsin (Feb. 27).
Ohio State Wins No. 1,400 in Program History
In 106 years of basketball since 1898, the men’s basketball program at Ohio State has an overall record of 1,409-984 with a 18-10 record this season.
Buckeyes Travel to Face 17-10 Iowa Squad
Iowa has a 5-9 record in Big Ten Conference play and is 17-10 overall heading into its home game with the Buckeyes Wednesday. The Hawkeyes are 12-3 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a 4-3 record in home conference games. Iowa was 12-1 in non-conference play with wins over Louisville, Texas, Iowa State and Texas Tech. The lone non-league loss was to North Carolina at the Maui Invitational. Iowa defeated Penn State in State College 78-56 last Saturday, breaking a three-game losing streak.
Alford Directs 6th Iowa Squad
Steve Alford is in his 14th season as a head coach at his sixth at Iowa. He is 106-81 at Iowa and 262-158 overall.
Stockman, Dials Top Scorers vs. Hawkeyes
Senior Tony Stockman averages 17.5 points in his two career meetings against Iowa. He has connected on 9 of 18 (.500) 3-point attempts in those two games. Junior Terence Dials averages 10.7 points in seven games vs. the Hawkeyes. Junior J.J. Sullinger is the top rebounder on the OSU squad vs. UI with an average of 4.7 a game in three career meetings. Dials averages 4.2 rebounds vs. the Hawkeyes.
The Iowa Series
Iowa leads the overall series against the Buckeyes 71-66. The Hawkeyes are 44-22 in Iowa City vs. Ohio State is 4-1 in its last five trips to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Ohio State vs. The Big Ten Illinois 59-100 Indiana 70-98 Iowa 66-71 Michigan 83-70 Michigan State 46-58 Minnesota 74-53 Northwestern 105-44 Penn State 17-13 Purdue 73-78 Wisconsin 80-60 Totals 673-645
Matta Coaching 2nd Game vs. Iowa
First-year Buckeye head coach Thad Matta is coaching in his first Big Ten Conference season and is 7-7 to date. He has competed against Wisconsin (2-2), Purdue (2-1), Illinois (0-1), Indiana (1-2), Iowa (1-0), Minnesota (0-2), Penn State (2-0), Northwestern (1-0), Michigan (1-0) and Michigan State (0-1) during his years at Butler, Xavier and Ohio State.
Buckeyes 19-7 on This Date
The Buckeyes are 19-7 all-time on this date with the last game played on this date being a win at Michigan in 2002, that game clinched a share of the Big Ten title that season. The Buckeyes are 4-1 in the last five games on this date.
3/2/00 W Kenyon, 31-18 3/2/01 L Kenyon, 9-11 3/2/09 W @Ohio Wesleyan, 36-18 3/2/12 W Oberlin, 27-11 3/2/17 W @Indiana, 30-14 3/2/18 W Oberlin, 38-17 3/2/29 L Michigan, 26-27 3/2/31 W Indiana, 31-15 3/2/35 W Michigan, 30-28 3/2/36 L @Indiana, 34-40 3/2/40 W Michigan, 51-32 3/2/57 W @Northwestern, 84-70 3/2/59 W @Minnesota, 68-66 3/2/63 W Purdue, 95(5)-75 3/2/64 W @Illinois, 86-74 3/2/68 W Indiana, 107-93 3/2/71 W Minnesota, 84(13)-70 3/2/74 W Indiana, 85-79(9) 3/2/75 L @Indiana, 78-86(1) 3/2/78 L @Iowa, 70-87 3/2/80 L @Indiana (ot), 73(10)-76(13) 3/2/85 W @Minnesota, 78-77 3/2/86 W Minnesota, 68-55 3/2/88 W Minnesota, 77-74 3/2/96 L Iowa, 64-73(21) 3/2/02 W @Michigan, 84 (18)-75
Buckeyes Establish 3-point Records
Ohio State has set several 3-point shooting records to date this season in 28 games played. The 2004-05 squad owns the top three spots in single game 3-pointers made after a school record 18 makes from long range at LSU (1/15/05). The effort at LSU also is a Big Ten record for made 3s in a single game. The 17 makes at St. John Arena earlier this year (11/27/04) is second ahead of the 15 made at Clemson (12/1/04). The current squad also tied the No. 7 spot with 12 made vs. Iowa (1/8/05) and the No. 9 position with 11 made vs. Penn State (2/12/05) and Morehead State (12/19/04). The 35 attempted vs. Chattanooga is a school record and the 34 tries at LSU is second. In all, the current roster of Buckeyes owns eight of the Top 10 single game spots in attempted 3-pointers in school history.
More From Long Range
As a team, the Buckeyes have taken 630 3-pointers this season, making 235 and both are single season team records. The 1998-99 Ohio State team made 218 in 36 games. The 2004-05 record for makes was set with an 11 of 27 effort at Penn State Feb. 12 from long range. The Buckeyes are on pace to make 260 3-pointers this season, which would rank No. 2 in Big Ten history for a single season. Penn State owns the single season team record for made 3-pointers with 278 in 2000-01. Ohio State is on pace for 698 attempts as well. The Big Ten record is 757 held by Penn State in 2000-01.
Buckeyes in the Big Ten
Terence Dials is the No. 3 rebounder in the Big Ten with an average of 7.9 rebounds a game. He is No. 4 in defensive rebounds (5.11) and in offensive rebounds (2.75). Tony Stockman is No. 6 in 3-pointers made per game (2.18) and No. 8 in steals (1.50). Brandon Fuss-Cheatham is No. 3 in assist to turnover ratio (2.60) and No. 10 in assists (3.25). Dials is No. 6 in scoring (15.8 ppg.) and No. 6 in field goal shooting by percentage (.576). Ivan Harris is No. 5 (.427) and Je’Kel Foster is No. 7 (.424) in 3-point shooting percentage.
Matta Era Underway
The 13th head coach in Ohio State history, Thad Matta took over the Ohio State men’s basketball program July 7. The new staff are working with a roster of 11 players for the 2004-05 campaign, seven of which are returning letterwinners from a 14-16 squad in 2003-04. That Buckeyes team finished ninth in the Big Ten with a 6-10 league mark and a first round exit in the Big Ten tournament.
Noting the Buckeyes
Junior J.J. Sullinger has connected on 54 percent of his shots from the field (104-193) in 28 games this season. He has scored in double figures in 13 games. The Buckeyes are 11-2 when Sullinger scores 10 or more points this season. He trails Terence Dials (7.9 rpg.) for the team rebounding lead with 5.5 rpg. Sullinger’s 16 blocks is tied for the team lead with Dials. Sullinger has upped his career scoring average to 9.8 points a game with 856 career points in 87 career games. Against Chattanooga Nov. 27, Sullinger tied a career high with four made 3-pointers in five attempts. Sullinger has at least one assist in 23 games this year and at least one steal in 20 outings. In two seasons in Columbus, Sullinger has scored 583 points with 292 rebounds. Sullinger has fouled out of a game just once this season after being disqualified eight times as a sophomore. With 11 rebounds vs. Minnesota (1/19), he recorded his third career game with 10 or more boards. In the first 13 games of the season, Sullinger connected on 23 of 43 foul shots (.534) but has upped his shooting percentage from the line to .646 after going 28 of 36 from the stripe in the last 15 games (.778).
Senior Brandon Fuss-Cheatham owns the team lead with 91 assists, a single-season high, against just 35 turnovers from the point guard position. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.60/1 is the best of his career and rates No. 3 in the Big Ten. In 632 minutes, he has averaged one turnover per 18.1 minutes played. He is playing 22.6 minutes a contest to date. He set a career high with four made 3-pointers at Clemson while scoring 14 points against the Tigers. His 15 points vs. Penn State (1/26) is a season high. He reached 300 career points (387) as a Buckeye with five vs. Mercer (12/22). He reached 200 career assists (227) with seven at LSU (1/15/05). He reached 100 career games played as a Buckeye at Indiana (1/22).
Sophomore Ivan Harris has started 28 games this year after making two all of his freshman season. He scored a career-high 20 points in the double overtime game at LSU (1/15/05), including 15 first-half points. He tallied 19 points in the semifinals of the Guardians Classic against Houston and then added 11 points in the overtime loss to Creighton, earning a spot on the all-tournament team alongside teammate J.J. Sullinger. Harris is connecting on 47 percent of his shots (85-180) from the field as a sophomore. He scored five 3-pointers in seven attempts against Chattanooga and then made 5 of 9 treys at Clemson. He made all five attempts in the second half from long range vs. Chattanooga and 4 of 7 in the final 20 minutes at Clemson. He has reached 10 or more points 12 times in his career. He connected on 5 of 8 shots and 4 of 5 3-pointers at Illinois (Jan. 5) and made 4 of 8 treys at LSU. Against Penn State Feb. 12, he grabbed a career high eight rebounds, including a career best seven on the defensive end.
Senior Tony Stockman averages 12.4 points a game this season in 27.8 minutes a game. He tallied 13.6 points a game a year ago in 33.5 minutes a contest. Against Delaware (11/19) he scored 26 points, his career-high effort as a Buckeye. He also knocked down six 3-pointers against the Blue Hens. Stockman has connected on six or more 3-pointers three times as a Buckeye. He led Ohio State to a win over Texas Tech in Dallas (Dec. 16) with 23 points. Stockman leads Ohio State with 42 steals. His shooting percentage of .409 (128-313) is the best of his career. He made at least one 3-pointer in 31-consecutive games as a Buckeye before an 0-3 outing vs. Minnesota (1/15/05). He was held scoreless in that contest for the first time since facing N.C. State his freshman season at Clemson, a span of 89 games. His one made 3-pointer vs. Portland State was the 250th of his career. His five made treys vs. Texas Tech gave him 100 as a Buckeye. He has 289 for his career and 134 at OSU. He played his 100th career game vs. New Hampshire (12/28/04) and reached 1,400 career points with 11 vs. Purdue Feb. 2 (1,455). With three steals in the Michigan game, Stockman reached 100 thefts at Ohio State. He recorded 61 as a junior and has 42 this season.
Freshman Jamar Butler made his first career start at Northwestern Jan. 31 and has been in the starting lineup since. He scored a career high with 13 points in the home win over Indiana Feb. 15. He reached double digits with 10 points and added a pair of steals in OSU’s 65-52 victory at Northwestern in his first collegiate start. Butler has played the most minutes of the freshman class to date (520/18.6 per game). He has just 24 turnovers to go with 64 assists for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.6-1. Butler has gone to the line 28 times and has made 25 (.893). Butler has at least one assist in 26 games, including a career-high six helpers at Penn State Feb. 12. He has played 10 or more minutes in every game this season, including a career-high 30 minutes against Minnesota (2/19). Butler is the top Big Ten freshman foul shooter and is fifth in steals (19/.68) and third in assists (2.25 apg.) and second in total assists (64).
Junior Je’Kel Foster has made the most of his court time off the bench and in the last eight games as a starter this season. In 28 games, he has averaged 7.7 points a game in 25.3 minutes a contest. He scored a career-high 20 points, all after the first half, in the double-overtime loss at LSU (1/15/05). He made 6 of 7 3-pointers in that game, including one to send the game into the second extra session. Foster is second behind Stockman with 41 steals. He has made a 3-pointer in 23 games and as many as three in 12 contests after three makes in six attempts against Penn State (2/12). Foster has a steal in 23 games this year. He has scored 10 or more points nine times. Ohio State is 8-1 in those games.
Junior Terence Dials is shooting 58 percent from the field (171-297). Dials has made 56 percent of his shots for his career (383-687). With a 15.8 points per game scoring average, he took the team scoring lead from Tony Stockman after a 24-point outing vs. New Hampshire (12/28/04). He has scored in double digits 22 times this year, in 20 of the last 23 games and in 47 career contests. His 17 points and 10 rebounds vs. Texas Tech (12/16) gave him his fourth career double-double. His fifth came vs. Mercer (12/22) with 29 points, a career high, and 13 rebounds. No. 6 came against New Hampshire with 24 points and a career-high tying 14 rebounds. He added No. 7 with a 20 point, 12 rebound effort vs. Wisconsin (1/19/05). He recorded his third-consecutive double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds vs. St. Joseph’s (12/31/04) marking the first time since 1986 (Dennis Hopson) that an OSU player has recorded a double-double in three-consecutive games. Dials has scored 20 or more points in nine of the last 18 games, 10 times on the year and in 12 career games. He has been the team’s leading scorer in 14 games this year. He was the squad’s top rebounder for 11-consecutive games before J.J. Sullinger grabbed a team high eight boards at Northwestern Jan. 29, and in 20 on the year. Dials reached 1,000 career points with 20 vs. Wisconsin (2/27/05). He has 1,010 (10.5 ppg.) career points and 586 (6.1) career rebounds. His 18 points and 13 rebounds vs. Indiana (1/22) gave him his ninth career and sixth double double this season. His 10th career and seventh double-double came against Purdue Feb. 2 with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Junior Matt Sylvester scored a career-high 17 points, including 11-consecutive OSU points during a 17-2 second half run, vs. Minnesota (1/15/05). His seven points came in succession against St. Joseph’s (12/21/04) to help Ohio State hold a second-half advantage. He has at least one assist in 23 contests this year. His tip-in basket late vs. Texas Tech (12/16) broke a 71-all tie and helped the Buckeyes hold off the Red Raiders for a 77-71 win in Dallas. His seven rebounds vs. Indiana (2/15) are a season high. Against Penn State Feb. 12, Sylvester scored a team and game-high 15 points in a 66-56 Ohio State road victory.
Hoops Coaches 10-3 In First Games at OSU
The 13 all-time men’s basketball head coaches at Ohio State have a combined record of 10-3 in their first games as Buckeye head coaches. Thad Matta, coach No. 13 in Ohio State history, won his opener vs. Towson, 74-53, Nov. 15.
Buckeyes Win No. 116 this Decade
Ohio State’s record in the first decade of the 21st century is shaping up to be one of the best in the history of the program. Ohio State is 116-67 (.634) since the beginning of the 1999-2000 season. The winning percentage is the second highest since 1910-19. The Buckeyes were 188-69 (.732) from 1960-69.
Harris, Sullinger Pace Buckeyes in Guardians Event
Ivan Harris led three players in double figures in the two games played in Kansas City in the Guardians Classic. Harris averaged 15.0 points followed by Tony Stockman (13.5 ppg.) and J.J. Sullinger (11.5 ppg.). Terence Dials grabbed 9.5 rebounds during the semifinals and finals. In the four games played in the Guardians Classic, Sullinger was the top scorer with 12.5 points a game. Dials was second with 12.3 ppg. followed by Stockman (11.5) and Harris (10.0). Dials averaged 7.3 rebounds in the four games.
Dials Earns Back-to-Back Big Ten Player of the Week Accolades
Ohio State junior Terence Dials led the Buckeyes past Mercer 102-77 by netting a career-high 29 points to go with 13 rebounds to earn his second-consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week accolade Dec. 27. He made 12 field goals, a career best, on 15 attempts (.800) from the field, while also hitting 5-of-7 free throws. Dials posted his second double-double in three games and fifth of his career, while also reaching double figures for the eighth time this season. He is now tied for the team lead in scoring (14.9 ppg.) while ranking 10th in the Big Ten Conference. Dials also ranks third in the league with a career-high 7.8 rebounds per game. The Youngstown native becomes the first conference player to earn back-to-back weekly honors since Wisconsin’s Kirk Penney, who was named player of the week on Dec. 24, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2001. He is the first Buckeye to earn consecutive honors since Scoonie Penn in 1999 (2/15, 2/22).
Stockman Puts Name in Record Book
Tony Stockman made 73 3-point field goals as a junior, the third most by an OSU player in a single season. His 61 steals total for 2003-04 tied him for the No. 7 spot with Michael Redd (1998) for single season steals at OSU. Stockman also attempted 202 3-pointers a year ago, good for the No. 3 spot all-time for single season long range attempts. He leads Ohio State with 61 made 3-pointers and with 177 attempted treys this year. He also is the team leader with 42 steals.
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. Ohio State played host to the first and second rounds in 2004. Games were played at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus, which will again be the site of the event in 2007. Ohio State will act as the host institution for the event.
Lewis to play for hometown Buckeyes
Ron Lewis, who played his first two seasons of college basketball at Bowling Green State University, transferred to his native Columbus to join Thad Matta at Ohio State. Lewis, a 2002 Brookhaven High School graduate, averaged 14.6 points and scored 877 points in his two seasons with the Falcons. He averaged 17.0 points and earned second team All-Mid American Conference honors as a sophomore before his transfer to Ohio State. Lewis started 55 of 60 career games at BGSU and was an 81 percent foul shooter (340-420) for his career. He will have two years of eligibility at Ohio State beginning with the 2005-06 campaign and becomes the first player to join the Buckeyes under Matta’s direction.
Six Buckeyes Spend Year in Residence
A total of six student-athletes on the 2004-05 roster have spent a year on the Ohio State campus without playing in games for the Buckeyes. Juniors 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 Matt Marinchick (2000-01) decided to redshirt his first year in Columbus to gain strength and experience. Finally, senior Tony Stockman and junior 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. Ron Lewis, a junior transfer from Bowling Green, is sitting out the 2004-05 season and will become eligible to play for the Buckeyes in 2005-06. He will have two years of eligibility.
