Buckeyes Welcome Wildcats to Value City Arena – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2006
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Date Feb. 18, 2006
Opponent Northwestern (12-11, 4-7)
Site Value City Arena (18,500)
Game Time 12:15 p.m. EST
Television ESPN Regional
Local TV WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent Wayne Larrivee (P-by-P), Greg Kelser (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)
FOSTER LEADS NATION IN 3-POINT SHOOTING PERCENTAGE
Ohio State senior Je’Kel Foster is the national leader in 3-point shooting percentage (as of Feb. 13) with a minimum of 2.5 made per game. He averages 2.95 a contest with 65 makes in 126 attempts (.516). He is one of two players nationally making better than 50 percent of his long range shots. As a team, the Buckeyes are No. 2 in 3-point FG pct. (.421), No. 8 in field goal percentage (.491), and No. 6 in 3-pointers made per game (9.2).
OHIO STATE VS. THE WILDCATS
The Buckeyes own a 105-44 (.705) advantage in games vs. Northwestern in the all-time series, which includes an 11-game win streak in the series. The last Northwestern victory was a 70-62 triumph Feb. 21, 1998 in Evanston. Ohio State is 62-14 in Columbus vs. the Wildcats and 43-30 in Evanston. The Buckeyes have won the last 25 games played in Columbus vs. Northwestern. The last NU victory at Ohio State was Feb. 24, 1977, an 83-72 win. Ohio State is 28-2 against Northwestern when ranked in the AP Top 25.
DIALS LEADS OSU VS. WILDCATS
Terence Dials is the lone Buckeye to average 10 or more points in games against Northwestern. Dials, a senior center, has played six games vs. the Wildcats with a scoring average of 10.8 ppg. He also is the top OSU rebounder against the Wildcats with an average of 5.8 boards a game.
BUCKEYES MOVE TO NO. 12 IN BOTH POLLS, HIGHEST RATED BIG TEN TEAM
Ohio State moved to the No. 12 spot in both the Associated Press (media) and ESPN/USA Today (coaches) polls after wins vs. a pair of ranked opponents last week. The Buckeyes topped No. 22 Michigan 95-85 on the road Feb. 9 and then handled No. 10 Illinois 69-53 Sunday in Columbus. Ohio State is 18-4 overall and 7-4 in the Big Ten. The four losses have come by a combined 15 points to then No. 16 Indiana (81-79, Jan. 7) in Bloomington, to then No. 14 Michigan State in double overtime (62-59, Jan. 15) in Columbus, to Iowa (67-62, Jan. 28) in Iowa City and at Wisconsin Wednesday (78-73). The current No. 12 ranking is the highest for an Ohio State team since it entered the 2000 NCAA Tournament as the No. 8-ranked team.
OHIO STATE EARNS BACK-TO-BACK BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
For the third time this season, an Ohio State student-athlete earned player of the week honors in men’s basketball. Sophomore Jamar Butler earned the award Monday after leading the Buckeyes to a pair of victories vs. ranked opponents last week. His 20 points at No. 22 Michigan set up a 22-point effort in a home win vs. No. 10 Illinois Sunday. In the two games he made 15-of-21 field goals (.714) and 7-of-8 (.875) 3-pointers. He also handed out nine assists and made all five foul shots. Butler’s honor comes on the heels of Je’Kel Foster taking the honor Feb. 6, his second. The last time an Ohio State player earned league POW honors in back to back weeks was in December 2004 when Terence Dials won in consecutive weeks (12/20, 12/27). The last time different OSU players won in back-to-back weeks was during the 1992 Big Ten season when Jim Jackson (2/3/92) and Chris Jent (2/10/92) were honored.
BUCKEYES TOP SEVERAL BIG TEN STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
The Buckeyes find themselves leading the Big Ten Conference in several areas heading into the week of Feb. 13. Ohio State is No. 1 in scoring offense (78.6 ppg.), field goal percentage (606-1,234/.491), 3-pt field goal pct. (203-482/.421), 3-pt. FGs made (9.23 pg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.26). In league games only, Ohio State is the leader in scoring offense (76.3 ppg.), scoring margin (+8.7 ppg.), field goal percentage (306-629/.486), 3-pt. FG pct. (105-248/.423), 3-pt. FG pct. defense (56-184/.304), turnover margin (+2.45), 3-pt. FGs made (9.55 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 nine games this season, all wins. The Buckeyes are 16-3 in the Thad Matta era when making 10 or more 3-pointers in a game. Ohio State is 31-5 (.861) all-time when making 10 or more 3s in a game.
FOSTER STAYS HOT FROM 3-POINT RANGE, HITS 6 OF 8 VS. ILLINOIS
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. He started 5 of 5 from beyond the arc vs. Illinois Sunday and finished 6 of 8 (.750) vs. the Illini. Foster has made 22 of 32 in the last five games from 3-point range (.688). He is 28 of 44 overall from the field (.636) during that stretch.
BUCKEYES SHOOTING WELL FROM LONG RANGE IN LEAGUE GAMES
Three Buckeyes are ranked among the Top 7 players in 3-point shooting percentage in Big Ten games only. Jamar Butler is knocking down 53 percent (17-32) of his long range shots in league play to rate No. 2. Je’Kel Foster is No. 3 (33-70/.471) and Ron Lewis is No. 7 (20-46/.435).
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.
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 104 of 127 games (.819).
OHIO STATE VS. RANKED TEAMS AT VALUE CITY ARENA
Following the win vs. No. 10 Illinois Feb. 12, Ohio State is 17-8 overall vs. ranked teams at Value City Arena. When ranked Big Ten teams take the court at VCA, Ohio State is 17-5.
THE BUCKEYES AT SOLD-OUT VCA
Ohio State is 24-7 in sold-out games at Value City Arena, which includes a 20-5 record vs. Big Ten opponents and a 10-1 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 vs. Florida A&M and Minnesota 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 51.6 percent of his treys this season (65-126). Against Wisconsin Wednesday, he knocked down 1 of 5 from long range. His career 3-point shooting percentage is 46.9 percent (127-271). His career and season shooting percentage this year are Ohio State records.
BUTLER STEADY AT THE POINT
Sophomore guard Jamar Butler is No. 2 in the Big Ten with a +3.06 assist-to-turnover ratio in all games. In league games only, Butler has handed out 48 assists with just 14 turnovers in 11 games for a +3.43 ratio, which also ranks second. Butler averages 4.4 assists and 1.3 turnovers a game in league play. In all games, Butler is sixth with an average of 4.7 assists a game. In league games, he is fifth.
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 127 games at VCA, a total of 2,059,160 fans, 16,213 per game, have helped the Buckeyes to a record of 104-23 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 49 percent from the field (65-134), up from 33 percent (36-108) as a freshman … has made 33 of 68 (.485) 3-pointers this year–(14-61/.230 a year ago) … rates No. 4 among Big Ten players in 3FG pct. and is No. 2 in league games only (17-32/.531) … averages 4.7 assists per game and has seven or more in six games … scoring average up to 10.1 ppg. from 3.6 ppg. as a freshman … 48 assists and just 14 turnovers in Big Ten play (+3.43 ast./TO ratio) … three games vs. Big Ten with 0 turnovers … just one TO for every 20.6 minutes played this season (658 minutes/32 TOs) … overall +3.06 ast./TO ratio is second in Big Ten … nearly 3-to-1 ratio for career (172 asts./63 TOs, +2.7) … leads the Buckeyes from the foul line hitting 83.1 percent of his charity tosses (49-59).
* Senior Terence Dials scored 19 points and grabbed a career high 16 rebounds in home win vs. No. 10 Illinois Feb. 12 … notched second-consecutive double-double and third of the season, with 24 points and 11 rebounds at Wisconsin Wednesday … 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 (536-961/.558) 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 (69-100), his best single season percentage as a Buckeye and an improvement from his .617 effort a year ago (113-183) … double figures in 12 of last 16 games … leads team in league play with 15.3 ppg. … has connected on 50 percent or better from the field in 17 of 22 games and in 14 of the last 16 contests … 13 career double-doubles … his 7.9 rebound average rates No. 5 among league players, .547 FG pct. also is fifth as well.
* 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 49 percent shooter from the field (192-389) … 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 (2/9) and 6 of 8 vs. Illinois (2/12) … has made 127-271 (.469) treys during his career … career pct. from long range rates best in OSU history, as does his average for this season (65-126/.516) … 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 (2.50 spg.) … top shooting guard in the Big Ten by pct. and sixth overall (.551).
* Senior J.J. Sullinger tied a career high with 24 points vs. Florida A&M Jan. 30 … reached 500 career rebounds (544) with six vs. Wisconsin Jan. 18 … reached 100 career steals (105) with one theft vs. MSU Jan. 15 … working on a third-consecutive 300-point season at Ohio State, (205 pts./9.3 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 … reached 600 points as a Buckeye (663/6.4 ppg.) with 12 at Penn State Jan. 21 … has 10+ points in six of last 10 games … game high five assists in win vs. Illinois Feb. 12 … tied career high with six assists at Wisconsin (Feb. 15) … + 2.00 assist-to-turnover ratio in league games rates No. 5 (36 asts./18 TOs).
* Junior Ron Lewis gives the Buckeyes 11.9 points a game … third leading scorer this season, his first as a Buckeye … team’s second-best foul shooter (.811/77-95) … his .487 FG pct. (77-158) 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 (315-747/.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 65 made this season after knocking down 1 of 5 at Wisconsin Wednesday. 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 51.6 percent of his treys this season. He has made 46.9 pct. (127-271) 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 38-16 (.704) 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 18-4 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 |
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 seven times dating back to the 1986-87 season, the first campaign for the 3-point shot. The Buckeyes made 15 of 24 treys at Michigan (Feb. 9) and then knocked down 13 of 23 vs. Illinois (Feb. 12). 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 31-5 in the 36 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 15 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. 12 in both the AP poll and the USA Today/Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes are 321-104 (.755) 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 32-5 overall, 20-4 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 3-pointers made and attempted after 22 games this season. The Buckeyes have made 203 of 482 3-point attempts on the season to date. The 203 made rates No. 3 all-time at OSU. The current team is on pace to make 258 3s this year, which would rank No. 2 all time ahead of the 2004-05 team. That group made 259 3s in 32 games a year ago. Ohio State currently averages 9.2 3-pointers a game and has a minimum of six games remaining this season. The 482 3s attempted this season is No. 3 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 8 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 19 times and have a 16-3 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 76.3 points after 22 games this season. Opponents average 65.8 ppg. The Buckeyes have made 49 percent of their field goals (606-1,234), while allowing opponents to make 43 percent (557-1,297). From the foul line, Ohio State has taken 433 shots, making 315 (.727), while foes have gone to the line 311 times, making 210 (.675). Balance has been the norm with five players averaging 9.3 or more points a game. Terence Dials leads the team with 14.6 ppg. with Je’Kel Foster close behind at 14.5 ppg. Ron Lewis (11.9 ppg.), Jamar Butler (10.1 ppg.) and J.J. Sullinger (9.3 ppg.) follow. Dials averages 7.6 rebounds a game to pace the squad.
DIALS CLIMBING SCORING CHART
Senior Terence Dials has 1,399 career points, good for the No. 19 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 87 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 787 boards to become one of 12 Buckeyes to reach the 700 mark all-time. He is on pace to reach 832 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 seventh all-time behind No. 6 Dave Sorenson (1968-70, 819).
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 1,399 points scored to date, good for the No. 19 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 1,138, which includes 261 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.
WILDCATS FALL TO ILLINOIS MINUS LEADING SCORER VUKUSIC
Despite the absence of senior Vedran Vukusic (sore back), the Big Ten’s leading scorer, Northwestern gave No. 14 Illinois all it wanted, trailing 48-45 late in the second half. But Rich McBride (17 points) and Dee Brown took over in the game’s final minutes to squash a Northwestern rally and post a 63-47 victory Wednesday at Assembly Hall. After Northwestern wiped out a 27-20 halftime deficit to tie the game at 29, Brown hit a 3-pointer and converted a four-point play on consecutive possessions to give the Illini a 36-29 lead. Northwestern, minus Vukusic’s 20-plus points per game, mounted a final push with a 12-2 run that trimmed a 13-point lead to three. But Illinois answered with 14 straight points to put the game away. Mohamed Hachad scored 17 points for Northwestern and Vince Scott had 11, including three 3-pointers. The Wildcats shot 41 percent.
VUKUSIC TOPS BIG TEN, WILDCATS IN SCORING
The Big Ten’s leading scorer, Wildcat senior Vedran Vukusic, missed the game at Illinois Wednesday with a sore back. He leads the league with 20.2 points a game, making 51 percent of his field goal attempts (158-312) and 37 percent from 3-point range (52-139). Classmate Mohamed Hachad is the only other Wildcat averaging double digits with 11.0 ppg. He also is the top rebounder with 4.6 rpg.
SECOND HALF SURGE LIFTS WISCONSIN OVER OHIO STATE
Alando Tucker had 27 points and 16 rebounds to lead Wisconsin to a 78-73 win over No. 12 Ohio State. Trailing 64-59, Wisconsin scored seven consecutive points – five by Ray Nixon and two free throws by Tucker – to give the Badgers their first lead since midway in the first half. Jamar Butler hit a jumper for Ohio State, the Buckeyes’ only field goal over a 6-minute stretch, to tie the game. But Nixon, who finished with 13 points, answered with another 3-pointer to give the Badgers the lead for good at 69-66. Brian Butch, who finished with 17 points, hit a 3-pointer 1:46 left to make it 72-68 and Ohio State never had a chance to tie again. Terence Dials was 5-of-5 from the field and hit both free throw attempts in the first half. He scored 12 of the Buckeyes’ first 14 points as Ohio State led by as many as nine points. Dials finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Butler had 17 points and Matt Sylvester added 14 for the Buckeyes. Tucker and Kammron Taylor combined for Wisconsin’s first 15 points of the second half and the Badgers tied the game at 57. Taylor finished with 12 points.
NOTING THE WISCONSIN GAME
* Ohio State is 81-62 all-time vs. Wisconsin with the Badgers holding a 41-29 advantage in Madison. The Buckeyes are 19-8 vs. UW when ranked in the AP poll. OSU is No. 12. .
* Senior Terence Dials recorded his second-consecutive double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds vs. the Badgers. He scored 19 points with a career-high 16 rebounds against Illinois last Sunday.
* Dials has 13 career double-doubles to rank No. 22 all-time at OSU in that category. He will be looking for his third consecutive game with 10+ points and rebounds vs. Northwestern. He has done so once before, during the 2004-05 campaign in wins vs. Mercer (29/13), New Hampshire (24/14) and St. Joseph’s (24/10).
* Dials’ 24 points vs. the Badgers moved him to the No. 19 spot all time in career scoring at Ohio State. He passed Brian Brown (1999-2002), who finished with 1,384 pts. Next up is Larry Bolden (1974-77) at No. 18 with 1,408 career points.
* With four made 3-pointers vs. Wisconsin, Ohio State topped the 200 mark (203) as a team for the 2005-06 season. It marks just the third time in OSU history a team as made 200 or more treys in a season. the 1998-99 team made 218 in 36 games and the 2004-05 squad connected on 259 in 32 games. Ohio State has played 22 contests to date this season.
* The Buckeyes are 321-104 (.755) when playing as a ranked team.
ON THIS DATE
Ohio State is 12-13 on this date. The Buckeyes have one win in the last nine games on Feb. 18.
| Date | W/L | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18/05 | W | @Denison | 34-19 |
| 2/18/18 | L | Illinois | 23-26 |
| 2/18/19 | W | @Ohio Wesleyan | 40-32 |
| 2/18/22 | L | @Iowa | 27-31 |
| 2/18/28 | L | @Wisconsin | 18-21 |
| 2/18/29 | W | @Chicago | 35-31 |
| 2/18/33 | W | Purdue | 28-27 |
| 2/18/35 | L | @Illinois | 36-43 |
| 2/18/39 | W | Iowa | 53-40 |
| 2/18/44 | W | @Illinois | 52-41 |
| 2/18/50 | W | @Northwestern | 68(3)-46 |
| 2/18/52 | L | Iowa | 62-75(5) |
| 2/18/56 | W | Minnesota | 91-80 |
| 2/18/61 | W | @Iowa | 62(1)-61(9) |
| 2/18/63 | W | Michigan State | 87(9)-77 |
| 2/18/67 | W | @Michigan | 97-85 |
| 2/18/69 | L | @Illinois | 57(10)-73(19) |
| 2/18/78 | L | @Michigan State | 74-79(10) |
| 2/18/84 | L | @Iowa | 60-74 |
| 2/18/87 | L | Iowa | 80-82(7) |
| 2/18/89 | L | @Northwestern | 69(16)-70 |
| 2/18/90 | W | Michigan | 64-61(5) |
| 2/18/92 | L | @Iowa | 86(6)-92 |
| 2/18/95 | L | @Iowa | 66-85 |
| 2/18/04 | L | Iowa | 67-78 |
OHIO STATE VS. THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Ohio State is 682-651 vs. the current members of the Big Ten Conference.
OSU vs. The Big Ten
| Illinois | 61-100 |
| 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 | 81-62 |
| Totals | 682-651 |
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.
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 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.
