Buckeyes Hit The Road, Head For State College – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 19, 2006
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Date Jan. 21, 2006
Opponent Penn State (10-5, 2-2)
Site Bryce Jordan Center (15,261)
Game Time 12:17 p.m. EST
Television ESPN Regional/ESPNU
Local TV WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent Tom Hamilton (P-by-P), Greg Kelser (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)
BUTLER STEADY AT THE POINT
Sophomore guard Jamar Butler is tied for the Big Ten lead with a +3.83 assist-to-turnover ratio in all games. In league games only, Butler has handed out 27 assists with just two turnovers in five games for a +13.5 ratio. Butler averages 5.4 assists and 0.4 turnovers a game in league play. In all games, Butler is sixth with an average of 4.93 assists a game. In five league games, he is fourth.
BUCKEYES FACE FOUR RANKED TEAMS IN SIX GAME STRETCH
Wisconsin traveled to Ohio State rated No. 13 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 15 in the Associated Press media rankings. No. 23 Iowa, a triple-overtime winner vs. Minnesota Wednesday, will make four ranked opponents in six games for the Buckeyes when the teams face off Jan. 28 in Iowa City. The Buckeyes are set to face ranked opponents in at least four more games. After Iowa the Buckeyes play host to Illinois (7 in AP/5 in coaches poll) Feb. 12 and are at Wisconsin Feb. 15 and Michigan State (11/12) Feb. 22. Michigan is receiving votes for Top 25 consideration in both polls this week. The Wolverines host Ohio State Feb. 9 and travel to Columbus Feb. 25. OHIO STATE VS. THE NITTANY LIONS
Ohio State has won its last five meetings vs. Penn State, including all three meetings a year ago and the game earlier this year in Columbus. The Buckeyes have won eight of the last nine meetings including the most recent meeting in State College, a 66-56 win Feb. 12, 2005. Ohio State owns an 12-4 advantage in games played in Columbus. Ohio State is 5-2 vs. the Nittany Lions when ranked among the Associated Press Top 25.
FOSTER LEADS VETERANS OFFENSIVELY VS. PSU
In four games vs. Penn State, Ohio State senior Je’Kel Foster averages 12.3 points. He has made 11 of 18 3-pointers (.611) vs. the Nittany Lions while connecting on 57 percent of his field goal attempts (16-28). Foster also averages 4.8 rebounds in games vs. PSU. Terence Dials has the most experience vs. PSU with seven games played. He averages 6.6 points and 5.7 rebounds. J.J. Sullinger has scored 62 points in six games (10.3 ppg.) vs. PSU. Junior Ron Lewis scored 26 points in his first game vs. the Nittany Lions earlier this season in Columbus.
SULLINGER’S SHOOTING EFFORT VS. PSU ONE OF OSU’S BEST ALL-TIME
J.J. Sullinger connected on all eight of his field goal attempts in the win vs. Penn State on his way to 18 points. He connected on both of his 3-point tries and eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau as well. In addition, Sullinger is now one of just four Ohio State players all-time to make eight or more shots in a game without a miss. Sullinger joins Brian Brown (9-9 vs. Florida State Nov. 23, 2000), John Havlicek (9-9 at Michigan Feb. 4, 1961) and Jerry Lucas (8-8 vs. Wisconsin Feb. 27, 1960).
DIALS’ PRODUCTION HEATS UP
Senior Terence Dials is connecting on 61 percent of his field goals (31-51) in Big Ten play and is the team scoring leader overall (14.9 ppg.) and in league only games (15.4 ppg.). Dials has reached 20 or more points in three of the last seven contests. He played just 13 minutes in a 104-69 win vs. Penn State Jan. 5 in the Big Ten opener, scoring five points. He tallied 19 vs. Tennessee State Dec. 23. Dials is a career .560 shooter from the field (497-888) and is scoring at above that percentage this season (87-153/.569). His 1,302 career points rates No. 22 all-time at Ohio State and his 726 career rebounds rate ninth all time.
NOTING THE BUCKEYES…
* Sophomore Jamar Butler is shooting 46 percent from the field (39-84), up from 31 percent (36-108) as a freshman … 22 of 47 (.468) 3-pointers made this year–(14-61/.230 a year ago) … rates No. 7 among Big Ten players in 3FG pct. … averages 4.9 assists per game and has seven or more in five games … scoring average up to 9.1 ppg. from 3.6 ppg. as a freshman … 27 assists and just two turnovers in Big Ten play (+13.5 ast./TO ratio) … three games vs. Big Ten with 0 turnovers … just one TO for every 23.7 minutes played this season (426 minutes/18 TOs) … overall +3.83 ast./TO ratio best in Big Ten … nearly 3-to-1 ratio for career (143 asts./49 TOs, +2.92).
* Senior Terence Dials scored 19 points vs. MSU to pass Clark Kellogg on the all-time scoring list last Sunday … Kellogg was the expert analyst in the game vs. the Spartans … needs three FGs to reach 500 made as a Buckeye … connecting on 69 percent from the foul line (50-72), his best single season percentage as a Buckeye and an improvement from his .617 effort a year ago (113-183) … double figures in eight of last nine games … leads team in league play with 15.4 ppg. … has connected on 50 percent or better from the field in 12 of 15 games and in nine-consecutive contests … 11 career double-doubles … his 7.1 rebound averaged rates No. 6 among league players, .569 FG pct. rates seventh.
* Senior Je’Kel Foster is one of just four Buckeyes all-time to record six or more steals in a single game … Troy Taylor (1982-85), Curtis Wilson (1984-88) and Scoonie Penn (1999-2000) are the others … Foster recorded six thefts vs. both Gardner-Webb and Purdue this season … a career 49 percent shooter from the field (155-319) … foul shooting pct. has improved from 65 pct. as a junior (17-26) to 76 pct. this year (34-45) … made one 3-pointer to reach 100 for his career (100-223/.448) … career pct. from long range is best in OSU history.
* Senior J.J. Sullinger reached 500 career rebounds (504) with six vs. Wisconsin Jan. 18 … reached 100 career steals with one theft vs. MSU last Sunday … working on a third-consecutive 300-point season at Ohio State, (145 pts./9.7 ppg.) this year.
* Senior Matt Sylvester has made a last second 3-pointer to win games in each of the last two seasons … his trey with 5 seconds left gave OSU a stunning 65-64 win vs. then No. 1 Illinois last March … another triple at the 5 second mark gave the Buckeyes the come-from-behind win vs. LSU earlier this season … working on 600 points as a Buckeye (599/6.2 ppg.) … has 10+ points in last three games, a career-long streak.
* Junior Ron Lewis gives the Buckeyes 12.7 points a game off the bench … third leading scorer this season, his first as a Buckeye … team’s best foul shooter (.808/63-78) … his .478 FG pct. is best of his career … shot .396 (145-366) as a sophomore at Bowling Green in 2003-04.
LEWIS GIVES BUCKEYES OFFENSIVE SPARK OFF BENCH
In the first 15 games, Ohio State has had 55 double figure games for an average of 3.7 players per game with 10 or more points. Terence Dials and Ron Lewis have scored double digits in 12 of 14 games this season to lead the Buckeyes. Lewis has scored 10 or more off the bench 10 times this season.
FOSTER ON PACE TO SET OSU 3-POINT SHOOTING RECORDS
Je’Kel Foster is on pace to become one of just three Buckeyes all-time to knock down 50 or more 3-pointers in a single season twice during their Ohio State careers. Foster made 62 as a junior and has made 38 to date this season. Scoonie Penn (1999-2000) made 88 in 1999 and 65 in 2000. Tony Stockman (2004-05) knocked down 73 as a junior and 66 a year ago. Foster is one of just 11 players in history to make 50 or more in a season. The feat has been accomplished 13 times since 1986-87 when the 3-point shot was introduced in NCAA Division I. Foster also is on pace to become the single season and career leader in 3-point shooting percentage. He is making 48.7 percent of his treys this season and will qualify for the all-time lead officially with a minimum of 50 makes this year. Foster’s one made 3-pointer vs. Wisconsin gave him 100 for his OSU career. He is the OSU career leader in 3-point field goal percentage. He has made 44.8 pct. (100-223) for his career.
MATTA OUT TO TOP 3 START AT OHIO STATE
Thad Matta will coach his 50th game of his OSU career Jan. 30 against Florida A&M with a chance to be one of the top three coaches all-time at OSU in winning percentage after the first 50 games at Ohio State. Matta has 47 games under his belt with a 33-14 record to date (.702). The Buckeyes will need to win the next three games for Matta to tie for the top spot from Fred Taylor (1959-76) and Randy Ayers (1990-97), who both won 36 of their first 50 contests at Ohio State for a winning percentage of .720. Matta is out to a 13-2 start in this his second season with the Buckeyes. Ayers started 17-0 in year two (1990-91). Taylor guided the Buckeyes to a national title in his second season with a 25-3 record (1959-60).
| 1st 50 Gms at OSU | |||
| Coach (Yrs. at OSU) | W | L | Pct. |
| Fred R. Taylor (1959-76) | 36 | 14 | .720 |
| Randy Ayers (1990-97) | 36 | 14 | .720 |
| Thad Matta (2005- present) | 33 | 14 | .702 |
| Harold G. Olsen (1923-46) | 32 | 18 | .640 |
| Lynn W. St. John (1912-19) | 31 | 19 | .620 |
| Gary Williams (1987-89) | 30 | 20 | .600 |
| Floyd S. Stahl (1951-58) | 17 | 33 | .515 |
| George M. Trautman (1920-22) | 24 | 26 | .480 |
| William H.H. Dye (1947-50) | 24 | 26 | .480 |
| Jim O’Brien (1998-2004) | 23 | 27 | .460 |
| Eldon Miller (1977-86) | 21 | 29 | .420 |
BUCKEYES LOOK FOR 9TH NONCONFERENCE HOME WIN
Since Value City Arena opened for the 1998-99 season, Ohio State has won at least seven home games vs. non-conference teams in seven of eight seasons, which includes the Buckeyes’ 8-0 record vs. non-Big Ten foes at VCA this year with one game remaining on the non-conference schedule. Florida A&M travels to Columbus Jan. 30, 2006. The Buckeyes have been undefeated in home non-conference games at VCA twice. OSU was 7-0 in 1998-99 and 8-0 a year ago. The Buckeyes were 8-1 for three-consecutive seasons starting with 1999-2000 through 2001-02. Ohio State is 59-6 overall vs. non-conference foes at VCA. Thad Matta is 16-0 as a Buckeye head coach against non-league foes at VCA.
BUCKEYES WIN 100TH GAME AT VALUE CITY ARENA
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 101 of 123 games (.815).
OHIO STATE VS. RANKED TEAMS AT VALUE CITY ARENA
Following the win vs. No. 15 Wisconsin Jan. 18, Ohio State is 16-8 overall vs. ranked teams at Value City Arena, including the 65-64 win vs. No. 1 Illinois that ended the 2004-05 regular season. When ranked Big Ten teams take the court at VCA, Ohio State is 16-5.
THE BUCKEYES AT SOLD-OUT VCA
The game vs. Wisconsin could be Ohio State’s second-consecutive sellout of the season at VCA (18,500). Ohio State is 23-7 in sold-out games at Value City Arena, which includes a 19-5 record vs. Big Ten opponents and a 9-1 record vs. ranked conference foes in sold-out games.
FOSTER EARNS NATIONAL, LEAGUE HONOR 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 15.8 points a game. Foster leads the Buckeyes with 28 steals and has made a team-best 83 percent of his foul shots (30-36).
BUCKEYES SET 3-POINT SHOOTING RECORD IN WIN VS. IOWA STATE
Ohio State connected on 10 of 22 3-point attempts vs. Iowa State Dec. 17 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 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 28-5 in the 33 games when scoring on 10 or more 3s while opponents are 30-28 in 58 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 |
BUCKEYES AMONG TOP 20 IN BOTH AP AND COACHES POLLS
Ohio State cracked the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time (Dec. 19) since March of 2002 when the Buckeyes finished the season rated No. 14. The Buckeyes are currently No. 19 in both the AP poll and the USA Today/Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes are 313-102 (.754) 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 appearance in 1948-49. The Buckeyes are 31-4 overall and 11-1 vs. non-conference foes at Value City Arena when ranked by AP. The only non-conference 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.
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 Dec. 12 vs. Norfolk St. when the Buckeyes connected on 14 of 32 3-point attempts. Matta’s teams have made 10 or more 3s in a game 16 times and have a 13-3 record in those games. Matta’s opponents at Ohio State have made 10 or more four times and are 2-2 in those games.
BUCKEYE OFFENSE CLICKS, THREE AVERAGE DOUBLE DIGITS
Ohio State is averaging 79.7 points in the first 15 games of the season. Opponents average 66.3 ppg. The Buckeyes have made 49 percent of their field goals (416-844), while allowing opponents to make just 43 percent (383-888). From the foul line, Ohio State has taken 324 shots, making 231 (.713), while foes have gone to the line 206 times, making 140 (.680). Balance has been the norm with five players averaging 9.0 or more points a game. Terence Dials leads the team with 14.9 ppg. Je’Kel Foster is next with 14.3 points a game. Ron Lewis (12.7 ppg.), and J.J. Sullinger (9.7 ppg.) follow. Jamar Butler tallies 9.1 ppg. Dials and Sullinger average 7.1 rebounds a game to pace the squad.
MATTA IMPROVES TO 21-3 IN NONCONFERENCE 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 10-0 start to date in non-conference action in 2005-06, Matta improved to 21-3 against non-league foes. The Buckeyes are 17-0 in Columbus and 16-0 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 13-1 in December.
DIALS CLIMBING SCORING CHART
Senior Terence Dials has 1,302 career points, good for the No. 22 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 295 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 JOINS 700 CLUB, TOP 10
Senior Terence Dials reached 700 career rebounds with eight at Indiana (1/7/06). He has 726 boards to become one of 12 Buckeyes to reach the 700 mark all-time. 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. Dials is tied for ninth all-time with John Havlicek (1960-62).
1,000 X 3
Ohio State’s roster contains three players who have scored 1,000 or more points in their collegiate careers. Terence Dials, Ron Lewis and J.J. Sullinger all have reached the 1,000-point plateau. Dials’ total stands at 1,302 points scored to date, good for 22nd on the all-time list at OSU. Lewis, who transferred to Ohio State with 877 points to his credit after two seasons at Bowling Green, has a career total of 1,067, which includes 190 scored as a Buckeye. Senior J.J. Sullinger has scored 1,031 career points. He played one season at Arkansas, scoring 273 points in 2001-02, and now is in his third year at Ohio State.
NITTANY LIONS HANDLE PURDUE
Penn State shot nearly 53 percent from the field and blew by Purdue for a 74-54 victory Wednesday at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College. The 20-point win was Penn State’s largest in Big Ten play since downing Purdue 92-71 during the 2000-01 season. The Lions shot better than 50 percent for the eighth time on the year and their 52.8-percent shooting (28-53) was their first outing over 50 percent in Big Ten play since the 2002-03 season and the best Big Ten shooting percentage since hitting 56.3 percent in an 81-68 win over Purdue in the Jordan Center on Feb. 16, 2002. Penn State improved to 10-5 on the year (2-2 in the Big Ten) and ended a five-game losing streak to the Boilermakers. It marked the most wins in Coach Ed DeChellis’s three-year tenure and Penn State’s most in a season since going 21-12 in 2000-01. Sophomore Geary Claxton posted his fourth double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
CLAXTON TOPS TRIO OF DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORERS FOR PENN STATE
Geary Claxton averages 15.1 points a game while Columbus native Jamelle Cornley tallies 13.4 ppg. and Travis Parker contributes 10.9 pp. Claxton’s 6.9 rebounds a game also leads the squad.
ON THIS DATE
Ohio State is 12-12 with losses in the last four games on this date.
| Date | W/L | Opponent | Score |
| 1/21/99 | L | Urbana | 6-10 |
| 1/21/05 | W | Purdue | 26-23 |
| 1/21/11 | L | @Oberlin | 17-19 |
| 1/21/13 | L | @Wisconsin | 11-22 |
| 1/21/18 | W | Michigan | 37-7 |
| 1/21/24 | W | Iowa | 43-28 |
| 1/21/28 | L | Chicago | 21-25 |
| 1/21/35 | W | Chicago | 37-21 |
| 1/21/39 | W | @Army | 48-39 |
| 1/21/46 | W | @Purdue | 48-38 |
| 1/21/50 | L | @Illinois | 50(11)-66 |
| 1/21/52 | W | Minnesota | 59-58 |
| 1/21/56 | L | @Purdue | 69(11)-70 |
| 1/21/57 | W | @Wisconsin | 67(17)-64 |
| 1/21/61 | W | Minnesota | 75(1)-56 |
| 1/21/67 | L | Minnesota | 60-67 |
| 1/21/82 | L | Purdue (ot) | 60-66 |
| 1/21/84 | W | @Michigan State | 82-68 |
| 1/21/87 | W | @Minnesota | 93-78 |
| 1/21/91 | W | @Indiana | 93(4)-85(3) |
| 1/21/95 | L | @Purdue | 66-92 |
| 1/21/98 | L | @Purdue | 71-82(12) |
| 1/21/01 | L | @Michigan State | 56-71(3) |
| 1/21/03 | L | @Indiana | 51-69(14) |
OHIO STATE VS. THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Ohio State is 678-649 vs. the current members of the Big Ten Conference.
OSU vs. The Big Ten
| Illinois | 60-100 |
| Indiana | 70-99 |
| Iowa | 66-72 |
| Michigan | 83-70 |
| Michigan State | 46-59 |
| Minnesota | 74-53 |
| Northwestern | 105-44 |
| Penn State | 19-13 |
| Purdue | 74-78 |
| Wisconsin | 81-61 |
| Totals | 678-649 |
BALANCE ON OFFENSE KEY TO OHIO STATE WIN VS. BADGERS
Jamar Butler and Je’Kel Foster took turns making critical shots down the stretch to lead No. 19 Ohio State to a 77-67 victory over No. 15 Wisconsin. The Buckeyes had a balanced attack, with Terence Dials scoring 15 points and Ron Lewis, Butler and Matt Sylvester each added 14. Kammron Taylor and Alando Tucker each scored 21 points for the Badgers with Tucker shooting 9-of-22 from the field. With the Buckeyes on top 44-43 and 14 minutes remaining, the Buckeyes ran off eight straight points. Butler hit two free throws, Ivan Harris hit a 3 from the left corner and Butler made a 3 early in the possession to push the lead to 52-43. Ohio State never trailed again. The Badgers pulled to 65-61 with just under 6 minutes left on Brian Butch’s 15-foot jumper, but then Foster came out of his slump. He hit the second of two free throws. After a miss by Tucker, he came out of an inbounds play to hit a 3-pointer from the right side. After two more Wisconsin misses, Ohio State went inside to Dials and he hit a baseline turnaround over Jason Chappell for a 71-61 lead with 3:33 left. The teams were tied at 31 at halftime after three ties and 11 lead changes.
NOTING THE WISCONSIN GAME
* Senior Matt Sylvester scored 14 points vs. the Badgers to give him 10 or more in three-consecutive games, a first in his career. He is shooting 53 percent from the field (17-32) and 60 percent (6-10) during the stretch.
* This was the 142nd meeting all-time between Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Buckeyes own the overall series lead with a record of 81-61. Ohio State is 51-20 in games played in Columbus and 4-3 vs. the Badgers at Value City Arena. OSU is 678-649 vs. the current members of the Big Ten Conference.
* The game was just the third meeting between the Buckeyes and Badgers when both teams are ranked. OSU has won all three of those contests. Ohio State is 19-7 when playing as a ranked team vs. the Badgers. When Wisconsin is ranked, OSU is 6-7 vs. the Badgers.
* Ohio State is 16-8 overall vs. ranked teams at Value City Arena. When ranked Big Ten opponents take the court at VCA, OSU is 16-5.
* With an attendance of 16,127, Ohio State exceeded the 2 million mark (2,009,577) in home attendance in the seven-plus seasons at Value City Arena. In 124 games at VCA, an average of 16,206 fans have helped the Buckeyes to a 101-23 record sat the facility.
* With the win, Ohio State has 10 home wins this season. The Buckeyes now have 10 or more home wins in seven of eight seasons at Value City Arena.
* The Buckeyes are 11-1 when scoring 70 or more points this season.
* The OSU bench contributed 23 points while Wisconsin’s was held to five.
* Wisconsin had a 38-35 edge in rebounds marking the first time this season the Badgers outrebounded an opponent and lost (10-1).
* The Buckeyes went on an early 11-2 run in the opening minutes of the game. Terence Dials (3-for-3) scored six of those points while Matt Sylvester (2-for-2) added the other five.
* The Buckeyes shot .538 from the field for the sixth game this year with a field goal shooting percentage over .500.
* Four Buckeyes finished with double-digit points. Terence Dials led with 15 points while Matt Sylvester, Jamar Butler and Ron Lewis each had 14.
* Ohio State was 5-for-6 from beyond the arc in the second half after going 2-for-9 in the first half.
* Senior guard Je’Kel Foster hit one 3-pointer for the 100th of his career. He is now 100 for 223 for a 3-point field goal percentage of .448 to top the all-time OSU list (minimum 100 made to qualify).
* Senior guard J.J. Sullinger grabbed six boards to surpass the 500-rebound mark. He now has 504 for his career.
* Junior guard Ron Lewis scored 14 points for double-digit points off the bench 10 times this season. He has reached double figures 12 of 15 games overall this year.
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 (W, 74-65, Dec. 23), Louisiana State (W, 78-76), at Penn State (Jan. 21), Florida A&M (Jan. 30) and Purdue (March 5).
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.
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.
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.
2 MILLION AT VCA
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 124 games at VCA, a total of 2,009,577 fans, 16,206 per game, have helped the Buckeyes to a record of 100-23 at the facility. Ohio State exceeded the 2 million mark in home attendance at VCA vs. Wisconsin (16,127) Jan. 18. 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.
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.
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.
