Buckeyes Open Conference Play, Host Penn State – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2006
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Date Jan. 5, 2006
Opponent Penn State (8-3, 0-0)
Site Value City Arena (18,500)
Game Time 8 p.m. EST
Television ESPN Plus
Local TV WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent Tom Hamilton (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)
BUCKEYES OPEN 94th SEASON IN BIG TEN CONFERENCE
This is the 94th season of Big Ten membership in men’s basketball for the Buckeyes. Ohio State is 51-42 (.548) in conference openers, 63-30 (.678) in league home openers and 35-58 (.376) in the first road game of the season in Big Ten play. Ohio State has opened Big Ten play on the road 41 times and has a 17-24 record in those games. The Buckeyes are 34-18 when Big Ten play begins in Columbus. Ohio State has opened the league season on the road in each of the last four seasons but will begin league play this year against Penn State Jan. 5, 2006 in Columbus.
BUCKEYES ONE WIN SHY OF 100 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 99 of 121 games (.818). Ohio State has won its last nine games vs. at VCA, including all eight to date this season.
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. 18 in the AP poll and No. 18 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes are 313-100 (.758) 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. OHIO STATE VS. THE NITTANY LIONS
Ohio State has won its last four meetings vs. Penn State, including all three meetings a year ago. The Buckeyes have won seven of the last eight meetings and the last three contested in Columbus. Ohio State owns an 11-4 advantage in games played in Columbus. Penn State has dropped its last three games at VCA and is 1-5 overall since 1998. Penn State was the first Big Ten team to face the Buckeyes at Value City Arena, a 70-62 setback Nov. 20, 1998. Ohio State is 4-2 vs. the Nittany Lions when ranked among the Associated Press Top 25.
FOSTER LEADS OFFENSIVELY VS. PSU
In three games a year ago vs. Penn State, Ohio State senior Je’Kel Foster averaged 13.3 points. He made 10 of 14 3-pointers (.714) vs. the Nittany Lions while connecting on 60 percent of his field goal attempts (12-20). Foster also averaged 5.7 rebounds in games vs. PSU. Terence Dials has the most experience vs. PSU with six games played. He averages 6.8 points and 5.5 rebounds vs. Penn State. J.J. Sullinger has scored 44 points in five games (8.8 ppg. vs. PSU.
BUCKEYES AMONG EIGHT UNBEATEN
No. 18 Ohio State (10-0) remains one of eight teams nationally with unblemished records. Illinois leads the way with a 14-0 record followed by Florida (12-0), Duke (11-0), Connecticut (11-0), Pittsburgh (11-0), Texas A&M (10-0) and Villanova (9-0).
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 42 games under his belt with a 30-12 record to date (.714). The Buckeyes will need to win seven of the next eight games for Matta take over 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. Six victories in the next eight games would tie Matta with Taylor and Ayers. Matta is out to a 10-0 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) | 30 | 12 | .714 |
| 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 NON-CONFERENCE 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.
FOSTER LEADS ALL GUARDS NATIONALLY IN SHOOTING PERCENTAGE
Senior Je’Kel Foster is connecting on 65.4 percent of his shots from the field to rate No. 6 nationally in field goal shooting percentage. He is the only guard listed among the Top 26 players in the country in field goal shooting percentage as of the Dec. 19 NCAA statistics report. Foster also rates No. 3 nationally in 3-point shooting percentage, knocking down 56.9 (29-51) percent from long range. Foster is second in the Big Ten in both shooting categories and also is the league leader in steals (2.7) and 3-pointers made per game (2.9).
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 16.5 points a game. Foster leads the Buckeyes with 27 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 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 10 games, Ohio State has had 40 double figure games for an average of 4.0 players per game with 10 or more points. Ron Lewis and Je’Kel Foster have scored in double digits in nine of 10 games this season to lead the Buckeyes in double-digit outings. Lewis has scored 10 or more off the bench seven times this season.
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. Ohio State made a dozen 3s vs. Iowa last year, the eighth most made in a game and the 11 made at St. Joe’s (Dec. 10) 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 10 games of the season, including the most recent win, a 78-76 win vs. LSU. Opponents average 65.1 ppg. The Buckeyes have made nearly 50 percent of their field goals (263-534), while allowing opponents to make just 42 percent (250-597). From the foul line, Ohio State has taken 251 shots, making 185 (.737), while foes have gone to the line 131 times, making 88 (.672). The Buckeyes own the rebound advantage (34.8-31.9). Balance has been the norm with four players averaging nine or more points a game. Je’Kel Foster leads the team with 16.5 points a game. Ron Lewis (12.4 ppg.), Terence Dials (14.7 ppg.) and J.J. Sullinger (9.7 ppg.) all follow. Sullinger averages 7.9 rebounds a game to pace the squad.
MATTA IMPROVES TO 21-3 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 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.
OHIO STATE LOOKS TO MOVE TO 11-0
The Buckeyes, off to a 10-0 start, face Penn State with the chance to move to 11-0 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 11-0 on three previous occasions all-time.
DIALS CLIMBING SCORING CHART
Senior Terence Dials has 1,225 career points, good for the No. 25 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 372 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 690 boards and will become one of just 12 Buckeyes to reach the 700 mark with 10 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 and Ron Lewis already have accomplished the feat. Dials’ total stands at 1,225 points scored to date, good for 25th 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 1,001, which includes 124 scored as a Buckeye. Senior J.J. Sullinger has scored 983 career points. He played one season at Arkansas, scoring 273 points in 2001-02, and now is in his third year at Ohio State.
PENN STATE TRAVELS WITH 8-3 RCD.
Penn State cruised to its eighth victory of the year with a 65-53 win over Mount St. Mary’s last Saturday. The Nittany Lions shot 50 percent from the field (22-of-44) and also won the rebounding battle for the ninth time in 11 games as they completed the non-conference slate with an 8-3 mark, Penn State’s best since going 10-1 in 2000-01. Penn State trailed just once when Mt. St. Mary’s Mychal Kearse scored the game’s first bucket. Penn State answered with 10 points and an eventual 24-2 run as they held The Mount without a bucket from the field for nearly 10 minutes and claimed a 24-4 lead at the 10:10 mark. Three Nittany Lions scored in double-figures led by sophomore Geary Claxton with 16. Freshman Jamelle Cornley added 14 and senior Travis Parker 10 on the day.
CLAXTON NITTANY LIONS
Geary Claxton is the top scorer for the Nittany Lions with 14.8 points per game. He also is the top rebounder with 6.5 caroms a contest. Columbus native Jamelle Cornley is second in scoring with 12.3 ppg. Travis Parker is the final of three double digit scorers with 11.1 points a game.
ON THIS DATE
Ohio State is 12-9 with wins in three of the last four games on this date. The Buckeyes opened the Big Ten season at No. 1 Illinois a year ago.
| Date | W/L | Opponent | Score |
| 1/5/00 | W | Circleville | 16-8 |
| 1/5/01 | L | Yale | 5-26 |
| 1/5/13 | W | @Westinghouse | 23-16 |
| 1/5/29 | L | @Iowa | 26-34 |
| 1/5/32 | W | @Illinois | 29-28 |
| 1/5/35 | L | @Iowa | 21-32 |
| 1/5/46 | W | Purdue | 57-50 |
| 1/5/48 | L | Iowa | 41-49 |
| 1/5/52 | L | @Northwestern | 70-75 |
| 1/5/53 | W | @Michigan | 79-46 |
| 1/5/57 | W | @Iowa | 72-66 |
| 1/5/63 | W | Minnesota | 78(5)-76 |
| 1/5/74 | L | Illinois | 73-75 |
| 1/5/76 | L | @Wisconsin (ot) | 81-82 |
| 1/5/78 | W | Wisconsin | 77-61 |
| 1/5/80 | W | Purdue | 67(5)-58(8) |
| 1/5/85 | L | @Michigan | 82-87(16) |
| 1/5/91 | W | @Michigan | 67(6)-57 |
| 1/5/93 | W | @Penn State | 71-68 |
| 1/5/02 | W | Iowa | 72-62(9) |
| 1/5/05 | L | @Illinois | 65-84(1) |
OHIO STATE VS. THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Ohio State is 675-647 vs. the current members of the Big Ten Conference.
OSU vs. The Big Ten
| Illinois | 60-100 |
| Indiana | 70-98 |
| Iowa | 66-72 |
| Michigan | 83-70 |
| Michigan State | 46-58 |
| Minnesota | 74-53 |
| Northwestern | 105-44 |
| Penn State | 18-13 |
| Purdue | 73-78 |
| Wisconsin | 80-61 |
| Totals | 675-647 |
SYLVESTER PROVIDES HEROICS IN OSU WIN VS. LSU
There’s something about big games and last-minute shots that seem to bring out the best in Matt Sylvester. It was the Ohio State swingman who made the 3-pointer that dashed No. 1 Illinois’ unbeaten season last March. Sylvester hit another big 3 with 5.5 seconds left to cap a furious comeback and keep the 21st-ranked Buckeyes undefeated with a 78-76 victory over LSU. Ohio State trailed by 15 points with just over 5 1/2 minutes left and was down by 10 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining before making every big play imaginable – and scoring the final 12 points – down the stretch. Terence Dials led the Buckeyes with 24 points, Sylvester and Ron Lewis each added 14 and Je’Kel Foster had 12. LSU was led by Glen Davis’ 25 points. Darrel Mitchell added 16, Tyrus Thomas had 14 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots and Tasmin Mitchell had 12 points. Davis’ basket off a backdoor lob pass with 3:23 left gave the Tigers a 76-66 lead. But that was the final points for LSU. Foster hit a 3-pointer from the right wing with 2:25 left and, after a miss by Davis, Sylvester’s 3-pointer bounced around the rim before falling with 1:44 remaining, cutting the lead to 76-72. Darrel Mitchell’s 3-pointer was off the mark and Dials rebounded. The Buckeyes pulled within a point on point guard Jamar Butler’s only 3-pointer of the game as the clock hit the 1-minute mark. After a timeout, Thomas’ off-balance driving layup missed and the ball ended up going out of bounds off an Ohio State player with 36 seconds left. LSU inbounded again and guard Ben Voogd patiently dribbled out front. He passed quickly to Davis, whose hurried air ball from 18 feet resulted in a shot-clock violation with 22 seconds left. Ohio State then tried to work the ball inside to Dials, but Foster ended up sandwiched between two defenders at the free throw line. The ball popped loose for an instant and he regained it, awkwardly tossing a pass to Sylvester who was unguarded in the left corner. Sylvester set his feet, took his time and hit nothing but net on the 3-pointer as a crowd of 16,136 erupted.
NOTING THE LSU GAME
* No. 21 Ohio State (10-0) remains one of eight teams nationally with unblemished records. Illinois leads the way with a 14-0 record followed by Florida (12-0), Duke (11-0), Connecticut (11-0), Pittsburgh (11-0), Texas A&M (10-0) and Villanova (9-0).
* The Buckeye defense held LSU scoreless for the last 3:22 of the game to come back from a 10-point deficit for the win. Ohio State trailed by 15 with six minutes left in the game, but OSU outscored LSU 20-3 in the final 5:36 of the game. Over the stretch, Je’Kel Foster had seven points, on four free throws and a 3-pointer and Matt Sylvester made 2 3-pointers. Jamar Butler made both a jump-shot and a 3-pointer in the final 4:19 of the game.
* The Buckeyes led just three times in the game, with a two-point lead 20 seconds into the contest, a 20-19 edge with 9:58 left in the first half and then on Sylvester’s 3-pointer with six seconds remaining.
* Ohio State is 8-0 in non-conference home games this season. The Buckeyes have won seven or more home non-Big Ten games in 7 of 8 seasons since Value City Arena opened for the 1998-99 campaign.
* Head coach Thad Matta is 16-0 vs. non-conference foes in Value City Arena while coaching the Buckeyes the last two seasons. Overall, Ohio State is 59-6 vs. non-Big Ten teams at VCA since it opened in 1998. Matta is 21-3 overall in all games vs. non-conference opponents.
* Ohio State is 28-25 against members of the Southeastern Conference all-time and 1-1 vs. LSU.
* With 24 points, Terence Dials moved to the No. 25 spot all time in career scoring with 1,225 career points. He passed Luke Witte (1971-73), who completed his tenure with 1,211 career points and John Havlicek (1960-62) who had 1,223 points as a Buckeye.
* Terence Dials has scored 20 or more points 17 times in his career and has done so in back-to-back games after a 23-point effort vs. Gardner-Webb (Dec. 28). Dials’ 24 points vs. LSU tied his season best, first set vs. Butler (Nov. 22).
* With eight rebounds, Dials moved closer to the 700 club in career rebounds at Ohio State. He is currently No. 12 all-time in career rebounds (690). No. 11 Gary Bradds (1962-64) is up next with 706.
* With the win, the Buckeyes move to 313-100 when played as a ranked team in the AP Poll, including an 11-1 mark against non-conference teams in Value City Arena.
* Junior Ron Lewis reached 1,000 career points with 14 vs. LSU. He had 877 in two seasons at Bowling Green. Lewis scored 14 points to give him double figures in 10 of 11 games this season. Lewis had a Buckeye season-high nine made free throws in the win over the Tigers, hitting 9-of-10 shots for a Buckeye season-best .900 free throw single-game percentage.
* The Buckeyes are 19-1 when Je’Kel Foster, a senior guard, scores 10 or more points (12 vs. LSU). Foster has reached double figures in scoring in 9 of 10 games this season and in the last seven consecutive games. He scored 10 or more in 11 games as a junior. Ohio State is 12-2 when Butler is credited with four or more assists in a game.
* Foster, the Big Ten leader in steals per game entering the contest (2.56) had four steals in the game. He has 10 steals in the last two games combined.
* Jamar Butler had five assists vs. the Tigers and has dished out four or more in each of the last six games (35 total).
* Ohio State is 10-0 for the first time since the 1990-91 season when that squad started the year 17-0. Ohio State has been 10-0 on just four occasions all-time.
* Matt Sylvester hit the game-winning 3-pointer with six seconds remaining. It was his second career game winner, as he hit the winning 3-point shot with five seconds left to beat No. 1 Illinois last year.
* Sylvester had a season-best 14 points vs. the Tigers. He tied his career best with three field goals, last set at Penn State Feb. 12, 2005. His previous high this season was eight points at St. Joe’s.
* Ohio State hit 21-of-24 free throws in the game for a season-high 87.5 percent success rate.
* The Buckeyes trailed the Tigers at halftime, 43-39. OSU is 2-0 when trailing at the half this season. The team came back from a 39-22 halftime deficit at Iowa State Dec. 17 for a 70-67 win.
* Ohio State now is 15-4 on Dec. 31 all-time and has won its last three games on this date.
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.
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. 7 in USA Today/No. 7 in AP), Illinois (6/6), Wisconsin (24 AP) and Indiana (15/16) will face the Buckeyes, who are in the Top 25 rankings in 18th in both polls. Other teams receiving votes in the polls scheduled to face Ohio State this year are: Michigan, Iowa and Iowa State.
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 120 games at VCA, a total of 1,944,105 fans, 16,201 per game, have helped the Buckeyes to a record of 98-22 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.
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.
