Buckeyes Head to Northwestern, Look For Regular Season Conference Title – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2006
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Date: March 1, 2006
Opponent: Northwestern (13-13, 5-9)
Site: Welsh-Ryan Arena (8,117)
Game Time: 8 p.m. EST
Television: ESPN Plus
Local TV: WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent: Mike Gleason (P-by-P), Bill Hosket (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)
MATTA SHOOTING FOR 4th LEAGUE TITLE IN THIRD DIVISION I CONFERENCE
Head coach Thad Matta has the Buckeyes in position to win the regular season title in the Big Ten. A championship this year would give him his fourth league regular season title in a third Division I conference. Matta won both the regular season and conference tournament titles in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in 2001 while coaching his lone season at Butler, his alma mater. He then won both the regular season and tournament Atlantic 10 titles in his first year at Xavier in 2002. The Musketeers won the regular season title again in 2003 and the tournament championship in 2004. Matta was the coach of the year in both the MCC (2001) and A-10 (2002). He is a candidate for the same honor in the Big Ten this season.
Thad Matta Coaching Resumé
| Year | School | League Title |
Postseason Title |
Coach of Year |
Conf. |
| 2001 | Butler | * | * | * | MCC |
| 2002 | Xavier | * | * | * | A-10 |
| 2003 | Xavier | * | — | — | A-10 |
| 2004 | Xavier | — | * | — | A-10 |
| 2005 | Ohio St. | — | — | — | Big Ten |
| 2006 | Ohio St. | Big Ten |
BUCKEYES PLAY FOR SHARE OF REGULAR SEASON BIG TEN TITLE
Ohio State can secure at least a share of the 2006 regular season Big Ten title with a victory at Northwestern this week. The Buckeyes are playing for the 18th league championship in school history and the first since 2002. Ohio State has won 10 outright league titles with seven shared championships.
DIALS EARNS BIG TEN PLAYER OF WEEK HONORS, HIS THIRD CAREER AWARD
Senior Terence Dials was honored Monday by the Big Ten Conference as its player of the week. It was the first of the year for Dials and third of his OSU career. Buckeyes have earned the honor four times this season. Senior Je’Kel Foster (twice) and sophomore Jamar Butler claimed the award earlier this year. Dials averaged 20.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in wins at No. 18 Michigan State and vs. Michigan last week. He also knocked down 18 of 28 field goals (.643) in helping the Buckeyes move to the No. 1 spot in the regular season conference standings heading into the road game at Northwestern.
OHIO STATE REACHES 10+ LEAGUE WINS FOR 28th TIME
The most recent win vs. Michigan (64-54) last Saturday upped the Buckeyes’ Big Ten record to 10-4. Ohio State has reached the 10-win plateau 28 times in school history. The last time Ohio State reached double digits in regular season conference wins was in 2002 (11-5/T1st). When reaching 10 or more wins, Ohio State has won or shared the regular season title 17 times and finished second on five occasions. The Buckeyes can clinch a share of the 2006 title with a win at Northwestern.
DIALS ON DOUBLE-DOUBLE STREAK
Senior Terence Dials has recorded 10+ points and rebounds in each of the last five games, the longest double-double streak of his career. Dials scored 19 points and grabbed a career-high 16 boards vs. Illinois (2/12/06) to start the streak. He tallied 24 points and 11 boards at Wisconsin (2/15/06), had 14 points and 15 boards last vs. Northwestern (2/18/06) and then scored 19 points with 10 boards in the road win vs. Michigan State and 22 points and 11 rebounds vs. Michigan last week. He is averaging 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in the last five games. Dials has 16 career double-doubles and six this season. The last time an Ohio State player put together a streak of five or more consecutive double-doubles was during the 1985-86 season when Brad Sellers had a streak of nine-consecutive games with 10 or more points and rebounds.
BUCKEYES OWN 4-GAME WIN STREAK VS. TOP 25 TEAMS
Ohio State has defeated the last four ranked opponents it has faced this season. Since the double overtime loss to No. 14 Michigan State Jan. 15 in Columbus, Ohio State has defeated No. 15 Wisconsin (77-67) Jan. 18, No. 22 Michigan (94-85) in Ann Arbor, No. 10 Illinois (69-53) and No. 18 Michigan State (79-68) in East Lansing. The last time Ohio State won four-consecutive games vs. ranked teams was during the 2001 and 2002 Big Ten seasons. Ohio State downed No. 3 Illinois, 63-61, Feb. 22, 2001 and then won three games vs. No. 9 Iowa (72-62, Jan. 5), No. 25 Indiana (73-67, Jan. 19) and No. 12 Illinois (78-67, Jan. 29) during the 2002 Big Ten campaign. The last time Ohio State won four-consecutive games vs. ranked teams in the same season was during the 1998-99 campaign when the Buckeyes won six in a row vs. ranked foes, four vs. Big Ten teams (at Purdue, at Iowa, at Indiana and Wisconsin) and two during NCAA tournament play (Auburn, St. John’s).
DIALS CLIMBING GMS. PLAYED CHART
Senior Terence Dials has played in 125 career games at Ohio State, good for the No. 7 spot all-time. He tied Dennis Hopson (125/1984-98) against Michigan. The Buckeyes have a minimum of three games remaining. Dials, with appearances in all three, will play at least 128 career games in an OSU uniform, good for the No. 3 spot all time. Brian Brown (1999-2002) is No. 2 with 129 games played and Jerry Francis is No. 1 with 133 appearances from 1986-89.
FOSTER NO. 2 IN 3-POINT SHOOTING PERCENTAGE
Ohio State senior Je’Kel Foster is No. 2 nationally in 3-point shooting percentage (as of Feb. 20) with a minimum of 2.5 made per game. He averages 2.72 a contest with 68 makes in 144 attempts (.472). As a team, the Buckeyes are No. 12 in scoring margin (+12.5 ppg.), No. 14 in field goal percentage (.482), No. 10 in 3-pointers made per game (8.84) and No. 7 in 3-point FG pct. (.404).
OHIO STATE VS. THE WILDCATS
The Buckeyes own a 106-44 (.707) advantage in the 150 games played all-time vs. Northwestern, which includes the current 12-game OSU win streak in the series. The last Northwestern victory was a 70-62 triumph Feb. 21, 1998 in Evanston. Ohio State is 63-14 in Columbus vs. the Wildcats and 43-30 in Evanston. The Buckeyes have won the last 26 games played in Columbus and the last five in Evanston, which is tied for the longest OSU road win streak in the series. Ohio State is 29-2 against Northwestern when ranked in the AP Top 25.
TRIO AVERAGE DOUBLE DIGITS VS. NU
Three Ohio State players average 10 or more points in games vs. the Wildcats. Ron Lewis, who played two games vs. Northwestern while playing at Bowling Green, leads the Buckeyes with an average of 11.7 points a game. J.J. Sullinger and Jamar Butler each average 11.0 points a contest. Lewis also averages 6.7 rebounds in three career games vs. the Wildcats. Sullinger averages 5.7 boards a game.
BUCKEYES NO. 9 IN AP, NO. 8 IN COACHES POLL
Ohio State improved to No. 9 in the Associated Press (media) and No. 8 in the ESPN/USA Today (coaches) polls after a pair of Big Ten wins last week. The Buckeyes knocked of No. 18 Michigan State in East Lansing (Feb. 22) 79-68 and then defeated Michigan 64-54 last Saturday in Columbus. Ohio State is 21-4 overall and 10-4 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 (78-73). The Buckeyes are 324-104 (.757) when playing as a ranked team in the AP poll. Ohio State was last ranked among the Top 10 nationally at the end of the 2000 season. The Buckeyes were ranked as high as No. 4 that year. Overall, Ohio State is 196-52 (.790) when playing with a Top 10 AP ranking. Ohio State has cracked the poll at least once in 28 seasons since its first appearance in 1948-49. The Buckeyes are 34-5 overall, 22-4 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.
OHIO STATE EARNS BACK-TO-BACK BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
Ohio State student-athletes earned player of the week honors in men’s basketball for consecutive weeks earlier this season. Sophomore Jamar Butler earned the award Feb. 13 after leading the Buckeyes to a pair of victories vs. ranked opponents. His 20 points at No. 22 Michigan (2/9/06) set up a 22-point effort in a home win vs. No. 10 Illinois (2/12/06). 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 came 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. 27. Ohio State is No. 1 in scoring offense (77.4 ppg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.28). In league games only, Ohio State is the leader in scoring offense (74.5 ppg.), scoring margin (+9.0 ppg.), field goal percentage (376-797/.472), 3-pt. FG pct. (123-313/.393), 3-pt. FG pct. defense (68-239/.285), turnover margin (+2.57), 3-pt. FGs made (8.79 pg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.36).
OHIO STATE SETS 3-POINT SHOOTING RECORD IN WIN AT MICHIGAN
The Buckeyes connected on 12 of 16 first-half 3-pointers at Michigan Feb. 9 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.
BUCKEYES LOOK TO FOSTER FROM LONG RANGE
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 (2/4/06) and then hit seven-consecutive treys on his way to 25 points. He then made his first five 3-pointers at Michigan (2/9/06) before a miss in his final attempt in Ann Arbor. He started 5 of 5 from beyond the arc vs. Illinois (2/12/06) and finished the game 6 of 8 (.750). Foster has made 22 of 45 in the last seven games from 3-point range (.489).
MATTA REACHES 6th 20-WIN SEASON
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 in both seasons to date at Ohio State, Matta is one of two coaches nationally to record 20 or more wins in the first six seasons of his coaching career. The Buckeyes are 21-4 to date this season. Mark Few of Gonzaga is the other with 20+ in all seven years with the Bulldogs.
OHIO STATE RECORDS 21st 20
With a 21-4 record this year to date, Ohio State reached its 21st season with 20 or more victories. The first year with a 20+ win record came in 1949-50 (22-4). The Buckeyes have participated in the NCAA tournament in 17 of the 20 previous seasons with 20 or more wins and have gone to postseason play 18 times (NIT in 1988). Ohio State was not eligible for postseason in 2004 (20-12) and did not participate in postseason play in 1963 (20-4).
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 106 of 129 games (.822).
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 26-7 in sold-out games at Value City Arena, which includes a 22-5 record vs. Big Ten opponents and a 10-1 record vs. ranked conference foes in sold-out games. Games vs. Michigan State (1/15), Illinois (2/12), Northwestern (2/18), Michigan (2/25) and Purdue (3/5) have been soldout this season.
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 (1/30/06) and Minnesota (2/4/06) 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. 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 (2/5/06) 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 47.2 percent of his treys this season (68-144). His career 3-point shooting percentage is 45.0 percent (130-289). His career and season shooting percentage this year are Ohio State records.
BUTLER STEADY AT THE POINT
Sophomore guard Jamar Butler is No. 1 in the Big Ten with a +2.92 assist-to-turnover ratio in all games. In league games only, Butler has handed out 64 assists with just 21 turnovers in 14 games for a +3.05 ratio, which ranks No. 1. Butler averages 4.6 assists and 1.5 turnovers a game in league play. In all games, Butler is sixth with an average of 4.8 assists a game. In league games, he is fifth.
BUCKEYES TOUGH TO BEAT AT HOME UNDER MATTA
Thad Matta has directed the Buckeyes to a 30-3 record in Columbus in two seasons as head coach of the Buckeyes. He is 29-3 overall at Value City Arena, which includes a 17-0 record vs. non-conference foes. Ohio State defeated Chattanooga last year at St. John Arena on the OSU campus. The 29-3 mark at VCA (12-3 vs. the Big Ten) is the best two-year record in the facility since Ohio State teams were 29-3 in the first two years the building was open (14-1 in 1998-99, 15-2 in 1999-00). The Buckeyes have one remaining home game this season and could set the building record with 16 victories. Ohio State won 15 games in both 1999-2000 and 2001-02 at VCA.
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 114 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 five 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 129 games at VCA, a total of 2,096,160 fans, 16,249 per game, have helped the Buckeyes to a record of 106-23 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 six of the eight years at VCA and 11 or more in seven of eight.
NOTING THE BUCKEYES…
* Sophomore Jamar Butler is shooting 46 percent from the field (72-158), up from 33 percent (36-108) as a freshman … has made 38 of 83 (.458) 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 (22-47/.468) … averages 4.8 assists per game and has seven or more in seven games … scoring average up to 10.0 ppg. from 3.6 ppg. as a freshman … 64 assists and just 21 turnovers in Big Ten play (+3.05 ast./TO ratio) … three games vs. Big Ten with 0 turnovers … just one TO for every 19.8 minutes played this season (773 minutes/36 TOs) … overall +2.92 ast./TO ratio is best in Big Ten … nearly 3-to-1 ratio for career (188 asts./70 TOs, +2.7) … leads the Buckeyes from the foul line hitting 83.1 percent of his charity tosses (59-71).
* Senior Terence Dials scored 19 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds in home win vs. No. 10 Illinois Feb. 12 … notched fifth-consecutive double-double and sixth of the season, with 22 points and 11 rebounds vs. Michigan last Saturday … 19 points vs. Michigan State Jan. 15 passed Clark Kellogg on the all-time scoring list … Kellogg was the expert analyst in the game vs. the Spartans … reached 500 FGs made as a Buckeye (559-997/.561) following a 6 of 14 effort at Iowa (1/28/06) … career field goal shooting percentage rates No. 4 all-time at OSU … scored in double figures in 15 of last 19 games … leads team offensively with 15.0 ppg overall and with 15.9 ppg. in Big Ten games … has connected on 50 percent or better from the field in 20 of 25 games and in 16 of the last 19 contests … 16 career double-doubles … his 8.2 rebound average rates No. 4 among league players, .569 FG pct. rates No. 3.
* 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 (12/28/05) and at Purdue (1/11/06) this season … a career 48 percent shooter from the field (198-416) … foul shooting pct. has improved from 65 pct. as a junior (17-26) to 79 pct. this year (45-57) … 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 130-289 (.450) treys during his career … career pct. from long range rates best in OSU history, as does his average for this season (68-144/.472) … the 68 made treys this year ranks fourth all-time for single season makes at OSU … 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 (2.44 spg.).
* Senior J.J. Sullinger tied a career high with 24 points vs. Florida A&M Jan. 30 … reached 500 career rebounds (551) with six vs. Wisconsin Jan. 18 … reached 100 career steals (107) with one theft vs. MSU Jan. 15 … working on a third-consecutive 300-point season at Ohio State, (239 pts./9.6 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 (678/6.4 ppg.) with 12 at Penn State Jan. 21 … has 10+ points in seven of last 12 games … game high five assists in win vs. Illinois Feb. 12 … tied career high with six assists at Wisconsin (Feb. 15) and then again at Michigan State (2/22/06) … + 2.15 assist-to-turnover ratio in league games rates No. 3 (43 asts./20 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 (.793/92-116) … his .460 FG pct. (86-187) 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) … has shot 324-776/.418 for his career.
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 68 made this season. 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 school 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.
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 (35-15). Matta is 41-16 (.719) 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 has the Buckeyes at 21-4 in this his second season. 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 32-5 in the 37 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 |
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 25 games this season. The Buckeyes have made 221 of 547 3-point attempts on the season to date. The 221 made rates No. 3 all-time at OSU. The current team is on pace to make 248 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 8.8 3-pointers a game and has a minimum of three games remaining this season. The 547 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 20 times and have a 17-3 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 77.4 points after 25 games this season. Opponents average 64.8 ppg. The Buckeyes have made 48 percent of their field goals (676-1,402), while allowing opponents to make 43 percent (626-1,469). From the foul line, Ohio State has taken 499 shots, making 361 (.723), while foes have gone to the line 342 times, making 234 (.684). Balance has been the norm with five players averaging 9.6 or more points a game. Terence Dials leads the team with 15.0 ppg. with Je’Kel Foster close behind at 13.6 ppg. Ron Lewis (11.9 ppg.), Jamar Butler (10.0 ppg.) and J.J. Sullinger (9.6 ppg.) follow. Dials averages 8.2 rebounds a game to pace the squad.
DIALS CLIMBING SCORING CHART
Senior Terence Dials has 1,454 career points, good for the No. 16 spot all-time in scoring at Ohio State. 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 32 points to reach the Top 15.
DIALS JOINS 800 CLUB, TOP 10
Senior Terence Dials notched career rebound No. 800 with 15 vs. Northwestern (Feb. 18). He has 823 boards to become one of seven Buckeyes to reach the 800 mark all-time. He is on pace to reach 848 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 sixth all-time behind No. 5 Clark Kellogg (1980-82, 872).
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 1,454 points scored to date, good for the No. 16 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 1,174, which includes 297 scored as a Buckeye. Senior J.J. Sullinger has scored 1,125 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 PENN STATE IN FINAL ROAD GAME OF SEASON
Despite a career-high 18 points from senior Evan Seacat, the Northwestern Wildcats fell to the Penn State Nittany Lions, 68-55 last Saturday. The loss puts the Wildcats at 13-13 with two home games remaining against Ohio State and Minnesota. After trailing by as many as 16 early in the second, the Wildcats countered with Seacat who hit a career-high six 3-pointers, all in the second half, to pull the Wildcats within striking distance. After Seacat’s fourth trey pulled NU to within 49-43, PSU’s Mike Walker countered with nine-consecutive points to fuel an 18-5 run that put the game out of reach. Travis Parker and Geary Claxton each scored 14 points as the Nittany Lions made a living at the charity stripe. Penn State scored 20 points from the free throw line (20-of-26), while Northwestern missed all three of its foul shots.
VUKUSIC MAINTAINS CONFERENCE SCORING LEAD
Northwestern senior Vedran Vukusic leads the Wildcats and the Big Ten in scoring with an average of 19.6 points a game. He connects on better than 50 percent from the field (177-351) and is a 37 percent shooter from 3-point range (57-156). Classmate Mohamed Hachad is the only other Wildcat in double digits offensivley with an 11.7 ppg scoring average. He also is the team’s leading rebounder with 4.8 a contest.
SULLINGER, DIALS GO FOR DOUBLE DIGITS IN WIN VS. WOLVERINES
Terence Dials had his fifth-consecutive double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds as No. 13 Ohio State stayed atop the Big Ten with a 64-54 victory over the Wolverines last Saturday. The Buckeyes hit 16 of 22 free throws to Michigan’s six of nine. J.J. Sullinger added 13 points and eight rebounds for Ohio State, and the bench provided 17 points: Ron Lewis had eight, Ivan Harris five and Matt Terwilliger four. Ron Coleman scored 13 points, Daniel Horton finished with 12 and Courtney Sims had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Michigan. Horton was 4 of 16 from the field and 2 of 8 on 3-pointers. Dials has broken out of a midseason slump to average 19.6 points and 12.6 rebounds over the last five games. Dials continually came up with deep rebounds and loose balls in the lane. When Sims got the ball inside, Dials always seemed to be there to offer resistance. Ahead by five at the half, the Buckeyes pulled away by beating the Wolverines off the dribble and inside. Matt Sylvester hit two free throws after drawing a fourth foul on Michigan starting forward Graham Brown, then Sullinger scored inside off an assist from Foster. Dials then hurried downcourt after a missed shot and dunked off a pass from Butler to make it 33-24.
NOTING THE MICHIGAN GAME
* Senior Terence Dials appeared in his 125th career game in an Ohio State uniform Saturday vs. Michigan. He is tied for the No. 7 spot all time in games played with Dennis Hopson (1984-88).
* Dials scored 22 points vs. the Wolverines to give him 1,454 for his career, good for the No. 16 spot all-time at OSU. He passed No. 17 Paul Ebert (1,436/1952-54) and No. 18 Bill Hosket (1,441/1966-68) in the game vs. Michigan.
* With 11 rebounds, Dials moved to No. 6 all-time with 823 career boards at OSU. Dials passed Luke Witte (819/1971-73) with the effort vs. the Wolverines.
* Dials scored 22 points and collected 11 rebounds vs. UM to give him five-consecutive double doubles, extending his career long streak in that category. The last Ohio State player to record five or more double-doubles in consecutive games was Brad Sellers (1985-86), who had a streak of nine-consecutive double-doubles during the 1985-86 season. Dials is tied for the No. 19 spot all time for career double-doubles at Ohio State.
* Ohio State is 85-70 all-time vs. Michigan, which includes a 49-26 mark in Columbus. Ohio State, then-ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press poll, is 29-4 all-time vs. UM when rated among the Top 25.
* Ohio State is 324-104 when ranked by the AP, which includes a record of 34-5 overall when ranked at Value City Arena. The Buckeyes are 22-4 vs. Big Ten teams at VCA and 12-1 vs. non-conference teams when ranked in games at VCA.
* The Buckeyes are 106-23 all-time at Value City Arena, which includes a 46-17 record vs. Big Ten teams and a 5-1 record vs. Michigan. Thad Matta is 3-0 vs. the Wolverines.
* Value City Arena was sold out for the fourth time this season. Ohio State is 26-7 in sold out games at VCA, including a 22-5 record vs. Big Ten foes.
* The 2005-06 Buckeyes moved into the No. 2 spot all-time as a team in 3-pointers made in a season. With four vs. the Wolverines, Ohio State has knocked down 221 of 547 for the year. The total makes rank second behind the 2004-05 squad’s 259. The number of attempts this year rates No. 3.
* With 15 wins at VCA this season, Thad Matta’s Buckeyes tied the 1999-00 and 2001-02 teams for most home wins in a season at VCA.
* Sophomore Jamar Butler has made 23 of 25 foul shots in the last six games.
* Butler finished the game with six assists. Ohio State is 19-3 in Butler’s two seasons when he is credited with four or more assists in a game.
* On the season, Ohio State is 17-2 when leading at the half, 19-1 when leading with 5:00 left in the game, 19-4 when it holds its opponents to less than 50 percent shooting and 17-2 when the opponent scores less than 70 points.
OHIO STATE VS. THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Ohio State is 685-651 vs. the current members of the Big Ten Conference.
OSU vs. The Big Ten
| Illinois | 61-100 |
| Indiana | 70-99 |
| Iowa | 66-73 |
| Michigan | 85-70 |
| Michigan State | 47-59 |
| Minnesota | 75-53 |
| Northwestern | 106-44 |
| Penn State | 20-13 |
| Purdue | 74-78 |
| Wisconsin | 81-62 |
| Totals | 685-651 |
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.
OHIOIANS DOMINATE OSU 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.
