Ohio State Travels To Indiana For A Top 20 Showdown – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2006
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Date Jan. 7, 2006
Opponent No. 16 Indiana (9-2, 1-0)
Site Assembly Hall (17,357)
Game Time 4 p.m. EST
Television CBS
Local TV WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent Kevin Harlan (P-by-P), Bill Raftery (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. After the win vs. Penn State Thursday, Ohio State is 52-42 (.553) in conference openers, 64-30 (.681) in league home openers. The Buckeyes are 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 35-18 when Big Ten play begins in Columbus. Ohio State opened the league season on the road in each of the last four seasons but began league play this year against Penn State 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).
FOSTER CLOSING ON OSU TOP 10 LIST
Senior Je’Kel Foster has made 92-200 (.460) 3-pointers during his two-year Ohio State career He needs 17 more makes to crack the OSU Top 10. His career percentage of .460 rates No. 1 all-time at Ohio State. He needs eight more makes to qualify officially (100 minimum made).
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 HOOSIERS
Ohio State owns a 7-6 advantage vs. the Hoosiers in the last 13 meetings with three of those wins coming at Assembly Hall. Ohio State has a record of 16-11 vs. IU when ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The Buckeyes are currently 18th in the AP poll. Indiana, ranked No. 16, is 29-20 vs. OSU when ranked. When both teams are ranked in games vs. one another, the Buckeyes own an 8-7 record. The Buckeyes have won eight of the last 10 games vs. ranked IU teams including five of the last six. In the last four games in which both teams were ranked, Ohio State has won three of those games.
PAIR OF BUCKEYES AVERAGE DOUBLE DIGITS VS. IU
Seniors Terence Dials and J.J. Sullinger both average 10 or more points in games vs. Indiana. Dials averages 15.0 points and 8.1 rebounds in seven games vs. IU. Sullinger, in five career games vs. Indiana, averages 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds.
BUCKEYES AMONG SIX UNBEATEN
No. 18 Ohio State (11-0) remains one of six teams nationally with unblemished records. Illinois leads the way with a 15-0 record followed by Florida (13-0), Duke (13-0), Pittsburgh (12-0) and Villanova (10-0).
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 43 games under his belt with a 31-12 record to date (.721). The Buckeyes will need to win six of the next seven 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. Five victories in the next seven games would tie Matta with Taylor and Ayers. Matta is out to a 11-0 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) | 31 | 12 | .721 |
| 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.
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 100 of 122 games (.820). Ohio State has won its last 10 games at VCA, including all nine to date this season.
FOSTER LEADS ALL GUARDS NATIONALLY IN SHOOTING PERCENTAGE
Senior Je’Kel Foster is connecting on 64.0 percent of his shots from the field to rate No. 8 nationally in field goal shooting percentage. He is the only guard listed among the Top 41 players in the country in field goal shooting percentage as of the Jan. 2 NCAA statistics report. Foster rates No. 1 (tie) nationally in 3-point shooting percentage, knocking down 54.5 (30-55) percent from long range. Foster is second in the Big Ten in both shooting categories and also is the league leader in steals (2.6) and 3-pointers made per game (2.7). Foster rates No. 20 nationally in steals per game. As a team, the Buckeyes are No. 5 in 3-point shooting percentage (.438/98-224).
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 27-5 in the 32 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 11 games, Ohio State has had 42 double figure games for an average of 3.8 players per game with 10 or more points. Ron Lewis and Je’Kel Foster have scored in double digits in 10 of 11 games this season to lead the Buckeyes in double-digit outings. Lewis has scored 10 or more off the bench eight 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. Matta’s teams have made 10 or more 3s in a game 15 times and have a 12-3 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 81.8 points in the first 11 games of the season, including the most recent win, a 104-69 win vs. Penn State. Opponents average 65.5 ppg. The Buckeyes have made 51 percent of their field goals (306-602), while allowing opponents to make just 43 percent (279-655). From the foul line, Ohio State has taken 259 shots, making 190 (.734), while foes have gone to the line 140 times, making 95 (.679). The Buckeyes own the rebound advantage (34.3-31.5). Balance has been the norm with five players averaging nine or more points a game. Je’Kel Foster leads the team with 15.8 points a game. Ron Lewis (13.6 ppg.), Terence Dials (13.8 ppg.) and J.J. Sullinger (10.5 ppg.) all follow. Sullinger averages 7.5 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 12-0
The Buckeyes, off to an 11-0 start, face Indiana with the chance to move to 12-0 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 12-0 on three previous occasions all-time.
DIALS CLIMBING SCORING CHART
Senior Terence Dials has 1,230 career points, good for the No. 24 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 367 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 697 boards and will become one of just 12 Buckeyes to reach the 700 mark with three 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 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 1,230 points scored to date, good for 24th 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 1,027, which includes 150 scored as a Buckeye. Senior J.J. Sullinger has scored 1,001 career points. He played one season at Arkansas, scoring 273 points in 2001-02, and now is in his third year at Ohio State.
HOOSIERS WIN BIG TEN OPENER
The No.16-ranked Hoosiers opened the 2006 Big Ten campaign with a hard-earned 70-63 win over the Michigan Wolverines Tuesday at Assembly Hall. Sophomore Robert Vaden’s scored 17 points, all coming in the second half, to lead IU (9-2, 1-0). With Indiana leading 59-57, Vaden started an Indiana run that sealed the game with a baseline drive for a lay-up. After a stop on the defensive end, senior Marco Killingsworth scored in the post to put Indiana up 63-57. Michigan senior Daniel Horton responded with a floater in the lane, but Killingsworth answered with two more on the other end to put Indiana up 65-59. IU never looked back as it closed out the game on the free-throw line to finally put away the Wolverines.
KILLINGSWORTH TOPS IU IN SCORING
Senior center Marco Killingsworth leads the Hoosiers with 18.8 points a game. He also is the team’s leading rebounder with 7.7 rebounds. Sophomore Robert Vaden is second offensively with 15.1 ppg. He is the team leader with 55 assists.
ON THIS DATE
Ohio State is 17-9 with wins in two of the last three games on this date.
| Date | W/L | Opponent | Score |
| 1/7/99 | W | Otterbein | 25-2 |
| 1/7/05 | W | Wittenberg | 65-8 |
| 1/7/11 | W | Otterbein | 42-20 |
| 1/7/20 | W | Oberlin | 33-20 |
| 1/7/22 | L | @Chicago | 14-25 |
| 1/7/28 | L | Wisconsin | 13-30 |
| 1/7/29 | W | @Northwestern | 31-28 |
| 1/7/30 | L | @Heidelberg | 23-25 |
| 1/7/33 | W | Indiana | 35-28 |
| 1/7/35 | W | @Michigan (ot) | 33-30 |
| 1/7/39 | W | Indiana | 45-38 |
| 1/7/42 | L | @Minnesota | 33-63 |
| 1/7/50 | W | Illinois | 83-62 |
| 1/7/52 | W | Indiana | 73-72(5) |
| 1/7/57 | W | Purdue | 75-68 |
| 1/7/61 | W | Illinois | 91(1)-65 |
| 1/7/63 | L | @Illinois | 78(4)-90(3) |
| 1/7/67 | W | @Minnesota | 78-65 |
| 1/7/74 | W | Georgia Tech | 89-71 |
| 1/7/78 | L | Iowa | 75-87 |
| 1/7/82 | W | Minnesota | 49-47(6) |
| 1/7/84 | L | Indiana | 62-73 |
| 1/7/88 | L | @Purdue | 77-84(10) |
| 1/7/89 | W | Wisconsin | 73(14)-70 |
| 1/7/92 | W | Michigan State | 62(7)-46(9) |
| 1/7/04 | L | @Illinois | 63-85(19) |
OHIO STATE VS. THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Ohio State is 676-647 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 | 19-13 |
| Purdue | 73-78 |
| Wisconsin | 80-61 |
| Totals | 676-647 |
LEWIS, SULLINGER COMBINE TO MAKE 18 OF 19 IN WIN VS. PENN STATE
Ron Lewis scored 26 points and J.J. Sullinger added 18 – combining to hit all but one of their 19 shots from the field – to lead the 18th-ranked Buckeyes to a 104-69 victory over Penn State in the Big Ten opener for both teams. The Buckeyes, off to their best start in 15 years, shot 63 percent from the field, including 68 percent in the opening half while building a 58-29 lead. Lewis came off the bench to go 10-of-11 from the field, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Sullinger didn’t miss any of his eight shots, making both of his 3-point tries. The Buckeyes led by as much as 84-39 with 12 minutes left before substituting freely. All 10 of Ohio State’s scholarship players scored, even though only two made it into double figures. Jamelle Cornley led Penn State with 20 points. Geary Claxton added 17 points for the Nittany Lions. The game was all but over after Ohio State hit 23 of 34 shots from the field in the opening half to go up by 29 points. The Nittany Lions led 13-12 before it every shot by Buckeyes started going in. After Je’Kel Foster, who had nine points and five assists, missed a 3-pointer at the 15:41 mark, the Buckeyes hit their next nine shots over a span of more than 7 1/2 minutes. They made 14 of their first 16 shots before Foster missed another 3 with 8:02 left, although Matt Sylvester scored with the rebound for a 34-19 lead. At one point, the Buckeyes scored on 13-consecutive possessions. Even though the Nittany Lions were shooting close to 50 percent, holding their own on the boards and losing few turnovers, they were falling farther behind. It was the most points scored in a conference game by Ohio State since a 105-87 win at Michigan on Feb. 12, 1981.
NOTING THE PSU GAME
* The 58 first half points for the Buckeyes are the most scored for Ohio State in a half since a 62-point second half at Penn State March 3, 2001. Ohio State, down 51-31 at the half in that game, came back to win 93-87. Ohio State scored 56 points in the second half vs. Mercer a season ago (12/12/04) in a 102-77 victory.
* Ohio State is 100-22 (.820) all time in Value City Arena since the facility opened for the 1998-99 campaign.
* No. 18 Ohio State (11-0, 1-0) remains one of six teams nationally with unblemished records. Illinois leads the way with a 14-0 record followed by Florida (13-0), Duke (13-0), Pittsburgh (12-0) and Villanova (9-0).
* Ohio State is 676-647 against members of the Big Ten Conference all-time and 19-13 vs. Penn State. Ohio State is 6-1 vs. Penn State at Value City Arena. The Buckeyes own a 41-16 record all-time in VCA vs. Big Ten competition.
* The Buckeyes are 12-4 all-time vs. PSU in Columbus.
* The Buckeyes are playing in their 94th Big Ten Conference season. Ohio State is 52-42 in Big Ten regular-season openers and 64-30 in the first home Big Ten game of the season. Ohio State is 8-0 in league openers at Value City Arena.
* Ohio State senior J.J. Sullinger scored 18 points to reach 1,000 (1,001) for his career. He entered the game with 983 points in three seasons at Ohio State and one at Arkansas.
* Ohio State finished 13 of 26 from 3-point range. The Buckeyes have connected on 10 or more 3s five times this season. Ohio State is 27-5 all-time when making 10 3s in a game. Matta’s Buckeyes have made 10 3s in a game 15 times with a 12-3 record.
* With the win, the Buckeyes move to 314-100 as a ranked team in the AP Poll all-time, including a 17-3 mark against Big Ten Conference teams in Value City Arena when OSU is ranked.
* Junior Ron Lewis scored 26 points to give him double figures in 10 of 11 games this season.
* Jamar Butler had a career-high 9 assists vs. the Nittany Lions and has dished out four or more in each of the last seven games (44 total). Ohio State is 13-2 when Butler is credited with four or more assists in a game.
* Sullinger and Lewis combined to go 18 of 19 from the field. Both are Columbus natives.
* Ohio State scored 100 points for just the second time at VCA and for the first time vs. a Big Ten opponent in the win vs. the Nittany Lions. Ohio State last scored 100 in the double overtime loss at LSU (113-101) Jan. 15, 2005. Ohio State defeated Mercer at VCA Dec. 22, 2004 (102-77). The last time Ohio State scored 100 vs. a Big Ten foe was at Northwestern (102-62) Jan. 10, 1991. The last Ohio State 100-point game vs. a Big Ten foe in Columbus was a 101-77 win vs. Northwestern Feb. 1, 1990.
* With 5 points, Terence Dials moved to the No. 24 spot all time in career scoring with 1,230 career points. He passed Larry Siegfried (1959-61), who completed his tenure with 1,228 career points.
* With 7 rebounds, Dials moved closer to the 700 club in career rebounds at Ohio State. He is currently No. 12 all-time in career rebounds (697). No. 11 Gary Bradds (1962-64) is up next with 706.
* Ohio State is 11-0 for the first time since the 1990-91 season when that squad started the year 17-0. Ohio State has been 11-0 on just four occasions all-time.
* Junior Sylvester Mayes dished out nine assists to tie his career high, established in his Ohio State debut vs. Chicago State (11/20/05).
* Freshman Brayden Bell scored a career high six points on 3 of 4 shooting from the field.
* Sophomore Matt Terwilliger scored a career-best nine points on 3 of 5 shooting from the field in a career best 27 minutes of action.
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 122 games at VCA, a total of 1,974,940 fans, 16,188 per game, have helped the Buckeyes to a record of 100-22 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.
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.
