Buckeyes Return Home to Face No. 10 Illinois – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2006
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Date Feb. 12, 2006
Opponent No. 10 Illinois (20-3, 6-3)
Site Value City Arena (18,500)
Game Time 1 p.m. EST
Television CBS
Local TV WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent Kevin Harlan (P-by-P), Clark Kellogg (Expert Analysis)
Radio OSU Radio Network (61 stations)
Local Radio WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent Paul Keels (P-by-P), Ron Stokes (Expert Analysis)
BUCKEYES TOP SEVERAL BIG TEN STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
The Buckeyes find themselves leading the Big Ten Conference in several areas heading into the Feb. 11 weekend. Ohio State is No. 1 in scoring offense (79.4 ppg.), field goal percentage (556-1,124/.495), 3-pt field goals made (9.3 pg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.25). OSU is No. 2 in league games only, Ohio State is the leader in eight columns–scoring offense (77.4 ppg.), scoring margin (+9.4 ppg.), field goal percentage (.493), 3-pt. FG pct. (88-208/.423), 3-pt. FG pct. defense (45-151/.298), turnover margin (+3.0), 3-pt. FGs made (9.78 pg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.34).
OHIO STATE SETS 3-POINT SHOOTING RECORD IN WIN AT MICHIGAN
The Buckeyes connected on 12 of 16 first-half 3-pointers at Michigan to set an OSU record for 3-pointers made in a half. Ohio State finished with 15 makes in 24 attempts in the 94-85 victory. The Buckeyes have made 10 or more 3-pointers in eight games this season, all wins. The Buckeyes are 15-3 in the Thad Matta era when making 10 or more 3-pointers in a game. Ohio State is 30-5 (.857) all-time when making 10 or more 3s in a game.
FOSTER KNOCKS DOWN A DOZEN CONSECUTIVE TREYS
Senior Je’Kel Foster set an OSU record with 12-consecutive made 3-pointers in wins vs. Minnesota Feb. 4 and at Michigan Feb. 9. Foster missed his first attempt from long range vs. Minnesota and then hit seven-consecutive treys on his way to 25 points. He then made his first five 3-pointers at Michigan before a miss in his final attempt in Ann Arbor. Foster has made 15 of 19 in the last three games from 3-point range (.789). He is 21 of 27 overall from the field (.778) during that stretch.
BUCKEYES SHOOTING WELL FROM LONG RANGE IN LEAGUE GAMES
Five Buckeyes are ranked among the Top 7 players in 3-point shooting percentage in Big Ten games only. J.J. Sullinger is knocking down 50 percent (10-20) of his long range shots in league play to rate No. 2. Jamar Butler is No. 3 (11-23/.478), Ivan Harris is No. 4 (9-19/.474), Je’Kel Foster is No. 6 (26-57/.456) and Ron Lewis is No. 7 (18-40/.450). Ohio State leads as a team in the same category, hitting 42 percent from 3-point range in league games (88-208).
OHIO STATE VS. THE ILLINI
Illinois leads the all-time series with the Buckeyes 100-60. The Illini have a slight 39-38 advantage in Columbus with the Buckeyes winning four of the last five games played at Value City Arena, which includes the 65-64 OSU victory vs. the No. 1 ranked Illini a year ago. Ohio State’s only home loss to Illinois at VCA was a 64-63 setback March 7, 2004. The Buckeyes are 18-11 vs. Illinois when ranked among the Top 25 in the Associated Press Poll. Ohio State is No. 19 this week. Illinois is 34-11 vs. the Buckeyes when ranked among the nation’s Top 25. The Illini are No. 10 this week. The teams have met 11 times when both are ranked. Ohio State is 5-6 in those contests. The last time both teams faced one another as a Top 25 squad was March 9, 2002. The No. 21 Buckeyes defeated No. 10 Illinois 94-88 at the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis. Ohio State beat Iowa the next day for the tournament title.
DIALS ONLY BUCKEYE IN DOUBLE DIGITS VS. ILLINOIS
Senior Terence Dials leads the Buckeyes vs. Illinois in both scoring (10.8 ppg.) and rebounding (5.8 rpg.). Dials has faced the Illini six times in his career. Senior Matt Sylvester averages 9.0 points in five games vs. Illinois. He posted a career-high 25 points vs. the Illini last year 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 103 of 126 games (.817).
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. 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
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 2ND BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Je’Kel Foster made 75 percent of his field goal attempts (15-20) and 77 percent of his 3-point attempts (10-13) in two wins last week to claim co-Big Ten Player of the Week accolades, his second of the season. He shared the most recent award with Iowa’s Jeff Horner. Foster scored a game-high 25 points on 8 of 10 shooting from the field in Ohio State’s 67-53 win vs. Minnesota last Saturday. He made 7 of 8 3-point attempts in that game. He missed his first long-range attempt and then made the next seven from beyond the arc.
EFFORT VS. MINNESOTA PUTS FOSTER IN RECORDS BOOK
The seven made 3-pointers vs. Minnesota places Je’Kel Foster No. 3 all-time at Ohio State for treys made in a single game. He also is No. 3 in 3-point shooting percentage in a single with his 7 of 8 effort (.875) vs. the Gophers. He moved into the top spot in single season 3-point shooting percentage after his outing vs. Minnesota. He is making 51.3 percent of his treys this season (58-113). Against Michigan last Thursday, he knocked down 5 of 6 (.833) to tie the No. 5 spot for 3-point field goal shooting percentage in a game.
BUTLER STEADY AT THE POINT
Sophomore guard Jamar Butler is No. 2 in the Big Ten with a +3.25 assist-to-turnover ratio in all games. In league games only, Butler has handed out 41 assists with just 10 turnovers in nine games for a +4.1 ratio, which also ranks second. Butler averages 4.8 assists and 1.5 turnovers a game in league play. In all games, Butler is fifth with an average of 4.56 assists a game. In league games, he is fifth as well.
2005-06 BUCKEYES CONTRIBUTE TO OSU ASSIST RECORDS
The 2005-06 Buckeyes, led by sophomore point guard Jamar Butler, have recorded two of the Top 10 Ohio State team performances in assists this year. The Buckeyes dished out 28 assists vs. Penn State Jan. 5 and were credited with 27 helpers vs. Florida A&M Jan. 30. The 28 assists vs. PSU rank as the No. 6 single game effort in OSU history while the 27 vs. FAMU rate tied for 7th. The last time Ohio State handed out 27 or more was Dec. 7, 1996 vs. Long Island (27). Butler leads the current team with 91 assists. He recorded a career high nine helpers vs. PSU and eight vs. FAMU. The Buckeyes have recorded 20 or more assists in a game four times this year, all wins.
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 126 games at VCA, a total of 2,040,660 fans, 16,195 per game, have helped the Buckeyes to a record of 103-23 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 eight years at VCA and 11 or more in seven of eight.
NOTING THE BUCKEYES…
* Sophomore Jamar Butler is shooting 47 percent from the field (46-103), up from 33 percent (36-108) as a freshman … has made 27 of 59 (.458) 3-pointers this year–(14-61/.230 a year ago) … rates No. 6 among Big Ten players in 3FG pct. … averages 4.8 assists per game and has seven or more in six games … scoring average up to 9.1 ppg. from 3.6 ppg. as a freshman … 41 assists and just 10 turnovers in Big Ten play (+4.1 ast./TO ratio) … three games vs. Big Ten with 0 turnovers … just one TO for every 21.1 minutes played this season (591 minutes/28 TOs) … overall +3.3 ast./TO ratio is second in Big Ten … nearly 3-to-1 ratio for career (165 asts./59 TOs, +2.8).
* Senior Terence Dials scored 19 points vs. MSU to pass Clark Kellogg on the all-time scoring list Jan. 15 … Kellogg was the expert analyst in the game vs. the Spartans … reached 500 FGs made as a Buckeye (518-932/.556) following a 6 of 14 effort at Iowa (1/28/06) … career field goal shooting percentage rates No. 4 all-time at OSU … connecting on 69 percent from the foul line (62-92), his best single season percentage as a Buckeye and an improvement from his .617 effort a year ago (113-183) … double figures in 10 of last 14 games … leads team in league play with 13.9 ppg. … has connected on 50 percent or better from the field in 15 of 20 games and in 12 of the last 14 contests … 11 career double-doubles … his 7.1 rebound average rates No. 7 among league players, .547 FG pct. also is 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 at Purdue this season … a career 50 percent shooter from the field (183-368) … foul shooting pct. has improved from 65 pct. as a junior (17-26) to 77 pct. this year (39-51) … connected on 7 of 8 (.875) 3-pointers vs. Minnesota Feb. 4 and followed that effort hitting 5 of 6 (.833) treys at Michigan … has made 120-258 (.465) treys during his career … career pct. from long range rates best in OSU history, as does his average for this season (58-113/.513) … the seven made treys and .875 long range shooting percentage vs. Minnesota rate No. 3 all-time for single game 3-point shooting and the effort vs. Michigan is tied for the No. 5 spot (.833/5-6) … two-time Big Ten Player of the Week, latest following wins vs. Florida A&M (Jan. 30) and Minnesota (Feb. 4) … Big Ten leader in steals per game (2.45 spg.) … top shooting guard in the Big Ten by pct. and fifth overall (.566).
* Senior J.J. Sullinger tied a career high with 24 points vs. Florida A&M Jan. 30 … reached 500 career rebounds (535) with six vs. Wisconsin Jan. 18 … reached 100 career steals with one theft vs. MSU Jan. 15 … working on a third-consecutive 300-point season at Ohio State, (205 pts./10.3 ppg.) this year … has made 16 of 21 foul shots in Big Ten play … his FG shooting percentage of .569 in league games rates No. 2 among conference players.
* 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 … reached 600 points as a Buckeye (642/6.3 ppg.) with 12 at Penn State Jan. 21 … has 10+ points in five of last eight games.
* Junior Ron Lewis gives the Buckeyes 12.5 points a game … third leading scorer this season, his first as a Buckeye … team’s best foul shooter (.802/73-91) … his .493 FG pct. (74-150) is best of his career … shot .396 (145-366) as a sophomore at Bowling Green in 2003-04 … reached 300 career FGs with 6 of 11 effort at Iowa (1/28/06) for his career (312-739/.422).
FOSTER SETS OSU 3-POINT SHOOTING RECORDS
Senior Je’Kel Foster became 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 following his effort vs. Minnesota Feb. 4. He made 7 of 8 long range attempts in that game and now has 58 made this season after knocking down 5 of 6 (.833) at Michigan last Thursday. Foster made 62 as a junior. 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 14 times since 1986-87 when the 3-point shot was introduced in NCAA Division I. Foster also is both the single season and career leader in 3-point shooting percentage. He is making 51.3 percent of his treys this season. He has made 46.5 pct. (120-258) for his career.
MATTA OWNS 3RD BEST OSU START
Thad Matta coached his 50th game of his OSU career against Florida A&M (1/30/06). He is among the top three coaches all-time at OSU in winning percentage after their first 50 games at Ohio State. Matta is 37-15 (.712) at OSU. Fred Taylor (1959-76) and Randy Ayers (1990-97) both won 36 of their first 50 contests at Ohio State for a winning percentage of .720. Matta is out to a 17-3 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) | 35 | 15 | .700 |
| 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 EARN 9 NON-CONFERENCE HOME WINS
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’ 9-0 record vs. non-Big Ten foes at VCA this year. The Buckeyes have been undefeated in home non-conference games at VCA three times. 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 60-6 overall vs. non-conference foes at VCA. Thad Matta is 17-0 as a Buckeye head coach against non-league foes at VCA.
MATTA IMPROVES TO 22-3 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 11-0 non-conference action in 2005-06, Matta improved to 22-3 against non-league foes. The Buckeyes are 18-0 in Columbus and 17-0 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.
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.
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 30-5 in the 35 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 the AP poll and No. 17 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes are 319-103 (.756) when playing as a ranked team in the AP poll. Ohio State has cracked the poll at least once in 28 seasons since its first appearance in 1948-49. The Buckeyes are 31-5 overall, 19-4 vs. Big Ten teams and 12-1 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.
2005-06 BUCKEYES CRACK TOP 10 IN 3-POINTERS MADE
As a team, Ohio State has cracked the OSU Top 3 in both 3-pointers made and attempted after 20 games this season. The Buckeyes have made 186 of 442 3-point attempts on the season to date. The 186 made rates No. 3 all-time at OSU. The current team is on pace to make 260 3s this year, which would rank No. 1 all time ahead of the 2004-05 team. That group made 259 3s in 32 games a year ago. Ohio State currently averages 9.3 3-pointers a game and has a minimum of eight games remaining this season. The 442 3s attempted this season is No. 8 all-time by an OSU team.
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. The Top 7 3-point shooting performances have been established in the last two years. 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 as well. Matta’s teams have made 10 or more 3s in a game 18 times and have a 15-3 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, FOUR AVERAGE DOUBLE DIGITS
Ohio State is averaging 79.4 points in the first 20 games of the season. Opponents average 65.8 ppg. The Buckeyes have made 50 percent of their field goals (556-1,124), while allowing opponents to make 43 percent (509-1,185). From the foul line, Ohio State has taken 402 shots, making 290 (.721), while foes have gone to the line 274 times, making 186 (.679). Balance has been the norm with four players averaging 10 or more points a game. Je’Kel Foster leads the team with 14.8 ppg. with Terence Dials close behind at 13.9 ppg. Ron Lewis (12.5 ppg.), and J.J. Sullinger (10.3 ppg.) follow. Dials averages 7.1 rebounds a game to pace the squad.
DIALS CLIMBING SCORING CHART
Senior Terence Dials has 1,356 career points, good for the No. 21 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 15 all-time in career scoring. Jerry Francis (1986-89) scored 1,486 career points during his Ohio State career and is 15th all-time in OSU scoring annals. Dials needs 130 or more points to reach the Top 15.
DIALS JOINS 700 CLUB, TOP 10
Senior Terence Dials reached 700 career rebounds with eight at Indiana (1/7/06). He has 760 boards to become one of 12 Buckeyes to reach the 700 mark all-time. He is on pace to reach 820 career rebounds, which would place him at the No. 6 spot all-time and one of seven players to reach the 800 mark in career rebounds. There are four players with 900 or more boards 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 eighth all-time behind No. 7 Dave Sorenson (1968-70) with 761.
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 1,356 points scored to date, good for the No. 21 spot 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 1,126, which includes 249 scored as a Buckeye. Senior J.J. Sullinger has scored 1,091 career points. He played one season at Arkansas, scoring 273 points in 2001-02, and now is in his third year at Ohio State.
ILLINI TAKE BREAK AFTER LOSS AT HOME TO PENN STATE
Rich McBride’s 3-pointer came a split-second too late and Penn State rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to upset No. 6 Illinois 66-65 eight days ago, ending the Fighting Illini’s home winning streak at 34 games. Travis Parker’s basket with 8.5 seconds left gave Penn State its first lead and handed the Illini their first loss at home since the 2003-04 season. Parker rebounded Mike Walker’s missed 3-pointer and swished a jumper that finished the Nittany Lions’ comeback. Parker scored 21 points and Geary Claxton added 20 to lead Penn State, which snapped a four-game losing streak. McBride’s shot went up as the horn sounded and officials spent several moments reviewing video replays to determine whether he got it off in time. McBride scored 17 points for the Illini, who led 13-0 early and 39-25 at halftime. James Augustine’s layup gave Illinois its biggest lead, 43-27, with 18:43 to go. Augustine had 13 points for Illinois, Dee Brown added 11 and Shaun Pruitt scored 10.
BROWN, AUGUSTINE LEAD BALANCED OFFENSIVE ATTACK FOR ILLINI
Seniors Dee Brown (15.0 ppg.) and James Augustine (13.3 ppg.) lead five players that average more than 8.0 points a game for the 20-3 Illini. Augustine leads the team in rebounding with an average of 8.9 boards a game. Brown averages 35 minutes a game and also is the team leader with 134 assists (6.7 apg.).
ON THIS DATE
Ohio State is 15-13 on this date with victories in the last six games and eight of the last nine contests played on this date.
| Date | W/L | Opponent | Score |
| 2/12/10 | W | Wooster | 44-16 |
| 2/12/16 | L | @Indiana | 17-26 |
| 2/12/17 | L | Minnesota | 16-19 |
| 2/12/18 | W | @Indiana | 23-21 |
| 2/12/21 | L | @Purdue | 23-41 |
| 2/12/23 | L | Iowa | 25-36 |
| 2/12/26 | L | @Northwestern | 18-27 |
| 2/12/27 | L | Purdue | 29-33 |
| 2/12/34 | L | @Wisconsin | 23-42 |
| 2/12/38 | W | Purdue | 37-29 |
| 2/12/40 | L | @Iowa | 33-43 |
| 2/12/44 | W | Iowa | 56-42 |
| 2/12/49 | L | @Illinois | 49(18)-64(4) |
| 2/12/51 | L | @Illinois | 59-79(16) |
| 2/12/52 | W | Northwestern | 79-61 |
| 2/12/55 | L | @Wisconsin | 63-86 |
| 2/12/62 | W | @Michigan | 72(1)-57 |
| 2/12/66 | W | Purdue | 68-54 |
| 2/12/68 | L | @Wisconsin | 78-86 |
| 2/12/72 | W | Purdue | 64(7)-62 |
| 2/12/73 | W | @Iowa | 86-80 |
| 2/12/77 | L | Michigan State | 57-71 |
| 2/12/81 | W | @Michigan | 105-87(13) |
| 2/12/83 | W | @Minnesota | 74-69(19) |
| 2/12/87 | W | @Wisconsin | 83-69 |
| 2/12/00 | W | Penn State | 88(5)-75 |
| 2/12/03 | W | @Penn State | 76-67 |
| 2/12/05 | W | @Penn State | 66-56 |
OHIO STATE VS. THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Ohio State is 681-650 vs. the current members of the Big Ten Conference.
OSU vs. The Big Ten
| Illinois | 60-100 |
| Indiana | 70-99 |
| Iowa | 66-73 |
| Michigan | 84-70 |
| Michigan State | 46-59 |
| Minnesota | 75-53 |
| Northwestern | 105-44 |
| Penn State | 20-13 |
| Purdue | 74-78 |
| Wisconsin | 81-61 |
| Totals | 681-650 |
BUTLER CAREER HIGH LEADS OHIO STATE IN WIN AT MICHIGAN
Jamar Butler scored a career-high 20 points and had two of the Buckeyes’ season-high 15 3-pointers in a 94-85 victory over Michigan. Chris Hunter’s three-point play gave Michigan a 73-70 lead with 8:45 to play, but Ohio State answered with a 14-2 run, during which it was 7-for-7 from the field, to go ahead for good. Center Courtney Sims had 26 points, a career-high 16 rebounds and four blocks for the Wolverines. Ohio State scored 10 points off Michigan’s 15 turnovers. Four of them came on breakaway dunks during the Buckeyes’ decisive run. Michigan guard Dion Harris had 14 points before spraining his right ankle with 8:29 to play. The Wolverines led 21-8 early in the game before the Buckeyes heated up. Ohio State hit 12 of 16 3-pointers in the first half, including nine of its last 10, and led 49-43 at the half. In the second half, Ohio State was 19-for-27 (70 percent) from the floor as it got better production in the frontcourt. Je’Kel Foster, who made 12-consecutive 3-pointers over two games before a second-half miss vs. the Wolverines, added 17 points for the Buckeyes, who also got 14 from Lewis and 13 from J.J. Sullinger. Daniel Horton had 15 points and 10 assists for Michigan and Ron Coleman scored 15 points.
NOTING THE MICHIGAN GAME
* Sophomore Jamar Butler scored a career high 20 points on 7 of 10 shooting from the field. He also had 5 assists.
* When Butler, No. 2 in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio with 88 assists and 25 turnovers (+3.52), reaches 4 or more assists, the Buckeyes are 16-3 over the last two seasons.
* Senior Je’Kel Foster made 12-consecutive 3-pointers, his last 7 vs. Minnesota and his first 5 vs. Michigan before missing his final attempt vs. the Wolverines … he has made 12 of 14 3-pointers in the last two games (.857) … his 3-point shooting percentage vs. the Wolverines (5-6/.833) is tied for the No. 5 spot all-time at OSU for a single game.
* Ohio State knocked down 12 of 16 3-point attempts (.750) in the first half against Michigan and finished making 15 of 24 attempts (.625).
* Ohio State is 21-3 when Foster makes 3 or more treys in a game and 24-2 when he reaches double figures in scoring.
* The Buckeyes connected on 10 or more 3s for the 8th time this season (8-0) and for the 18th time in the Matta era (15-3).
* The 94 points scored by the Buckeyes are the most vs. a Michigan team since a 95-87 OSU victory in Columbus Feb. 5, 1987. The last time OSU scored 94 or more at Michigan was in a 105-87 win Feb. 12, 1981.
* Ohio State improved to 84-70 all-time vs. Michigan and to 34-43 in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes are 28-4 when playing as a ranked team vs. Michigan and to 4-2 vs. the Wolverines when both teams are ranked when facing one another. Ohio State is 11-22 vs. ranked UM teams.
* The last time Ohio State defeated a ranked team away from Columbus was a 65-59 win vs. No. 21 Purdue Jan. 31, 2004. The Buckeyes were unranked in that game.
* The Buckeyes are 320-103 (.757) when playing as a ranked team. Ohio State is 56-41 (.577) all-time in games when both teams are ranked.
* Junior Ron Lewis scored 14 points off the bench for the Buckeyes. He has reached 10 or more points 11 times when not starting this season.
* Ohio State is 14-1 when leading at the half this season and 15-0 when leading in games with 5 minutes remaining … OSU is 15-1 when scoring 70 or more points and 16-0 when shooting a better FG percentage than the opponent … the Buckeyes also are 10-0 when shooting better than 50 percent from the field this season.
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 (W 75-64, Jan. 21), Florida A&M (W, 95-53, Jan. 30) and Purdue (March 5).
MILLER RECOGNIZED BY ALMA MATER
Brandon Miller, Ohio State’s director of men’s basketball operations, was selected to Butler University’s Team of the Sesquicentennial. He participated in a dinner in recognition of the event Feb. 3 at Butler. The 15-member team was recognized at halftime of the UW-Milwaukee at Butler game Feb. 4 in Indianapolis. Miller is one of just eight players in Butler basketball history to score over 1,000 career points in just three seasons, finishing his career with 1,121 points. He currently ranks third on Butler’s all-time list for 3-point field goals (189) and stands sixth on the school’s all-time list for assists (305).
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.
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.
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 (1/5/06) 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). Ron Lewis also shot well vs. the Nittany Lions hitting 10 of 11 (.909) shots to rate No. 9 all-time in single game shooting percentage.
