Buckeyes Travel to Ann Arbor to Take on the Wolverines – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2006
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Date Feb. 9, 2006
Opponent No. 22 Michigan (16-4, 6-3)
Site Crisler Arena (13,751)
Game Time 7 p.m. EST
Television ESPN
Local TV None
TV Talent Brent Musburger (P-by-P), Steve Lavin (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 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 also moved into the top spot in single season 3-point shooting percentage after his outing vs. Minnesota. He is making 49.5 percent of his treys this season (53-107).
OHIO STATE VS. THE WOLVERINES
Ohio State is 13 games above the .500 mark in the all-time series vs. the Wolverines with an 83-70 lead in the all-time series. Ohio State is 33-43 in Ann Arbor and 48-26 in Columbus. In three neutral-site games, OSU is up 2-1. The Buckeyes broke a three-game losing streak against Michigan last year with a 72-46 win in Columbus (2/5/05). Ohio State is 8-3 in the last 11 games vs. the Wolverines and will be looking for its first win in Ann Arbor since March 2, 2002, an 84-75 victory. Ohio State, ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press Poll this week, is 27-4 vs. the Wolverines when ranked. Michigan, ranked No. 22, is 22-10 vs. Ohio State when among the AP’s Top 25. In games when both teams are ranked, Ohio State has a 3-2 edge. The two teams have not been ranked in the same game since 1992 when No. 15 Michigan downed No. 3 Ohio State in overtime, 75-71. That game was an NCAA Regional Final contest in Lexington, Ky. Ohio State has won 10 of the last 11 games vs. Michigan when the Buckeyes are ranked, which includes the last six meetings.
DIALS LEADS VETERANS IN GAMES VS. THE WOLVERINES
Senior Terence Dials leads the Buckeyes vs. Michigan in scoring (12.6 ppg.) and rebounding (5.0 rpg.). Dials has faced the Wolverines five times in his career. Senior Je’Kel Foster scored 11 points in his only appearance vs. Michigan a year ago. No other Buckeye has appeared in more than three games vs. UM. Five current players have not played Michigan more than twice.
BUTLER STEADY AT THE POINT
Sophomore guard Jamar Butler is the Big Ten leader with a +3.19 assist-to-turnover ratio in all games. In league games only, Butler has handed out 36 assists with just nine turnovers in eight games for a +4.0 ratio. Butler averages 4.5 assists and 1.1 turnovers a game in league play. In all games, Butler is sixth with an average of 4.78 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 86 assists. He recorded a career high nine assists vs. PSU and eight vs. FAMU.
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 45 percent from the field (46-103), up from 33 percent (36-108) as a freshman … made 25 of 57 (.439) 3-pointers this year–(14-61/.230 a year ago) … rates No. 10 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 8.5 ppg. from 3.6 ppg. as a freshman … 36 assists and just nine turnovers in Big Ten play (+4.0 ast./TO ratio) … three games vs. Big Ten with 0 turnovers … just one TO for every 20.6 minutes played this season (557 minutes/27 TOs) … overall +3.2 ast./TO ratio is best in Big Ten … nearly 3-to-1 ratio for career (160 asts./58 TOs, +2.76).
* 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 (514-922/.557) 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 (61-88), 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 13 games … leads team in league play with 14.5 ppg. … has connected on 50 percent or better from the field in 15 of 19 games and in 12 of the last 13 contests … 11 career double-doubles … his 7.3 rebound average rates No. 7 among league players, .557 FG pct. rates sixth.
* 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 (177-361) … foul shooting pct. has improved from 65 pct. as a junior (17-26) to 78 pct. this year (39-50) … connected on 7 of 8 (.875) 3-pointers vs. Minnesota last time out … has made 115-252 (.443) treys during his career … career pct. from long range rates best in OSU history, as does his average for the season … the seven made treys and .875 long range shooting percentage vs. Minnesota rate No. 3 all-time for single game 3-point shooting … two-time Big Ten Player of the Week, latest following wins vs. Florida A&M (Jan. 30) and Minnesota (Feb. 4).
* Senior J.J. Sullinger tied a career high with 24 points vs. Florida A&M Jan. 30 … reached 500 career rebounds (532) 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, (192 pts./10.1 ppg.) this year … has made 16 of 19 foul shots in Big Ten play … his FT shooting percentage of .842 in league games rates No. 5 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 (636/6.3 ppg.) with 12 at Penn State Jan. 21 … has 10+ points in five of last seven games … rates No. 4 among league players in 3-point field-goal shooting percentage (12-27/.444) vs. Big Ten opponents.
* Junior Ron Lewis gives the Buckeyes 12.4 points a game … third leading scorer this season, his first as a Buckeye … team’s best foul shooter (.798/71-89) … his .483 FG pct. (69-143) 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 (307-732/.419).
FOSTER ON PACE TO SET 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 to give him 53 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 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 49.5 percent of his treys this season. He has made 45.6 pct. (115-252) for his career.
MATTA OUT TO TOP 3 START AT OHIO STATE
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 36-15 (.706) 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 16-3 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 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. ranked 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.
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 28-5 in the 33 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 10 in both 3-pointers made and attempted after 19 games this season. The Buckeyes have made 171 of 418 3-point attempts on the season to date. The 171 made rates No. 4 all-time at OSU. The current team is on pace to make 252 3s this year, which would rank No. 2 all time behind the 2004-05 team. That group made 259 3s in 32 games a year ago. Ohio State currently averages 9.0 3-pointers a game and has a minimum of nine games remaining this season. The 418 3s attempted this season is ninth most 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 6 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 and then knocked down 15 at Clemson in early December a year ago. The No. 4 effort was put in the books Dec. 12 vs. Norfolk St. when the Buckeyes connected on 14 of 32 3-point attempts. Matta’s teams have made 10 or more 3s in a game 17 times and have a 14-3 record in those games. Matta’s opponents at Ohio State have made 10 or more four times and are 2-2 in those games.
BUCKEYES OFFENSE CLICK, FOUR AVERAGE DOUBLE DIGITS
Ohio State is averaging 78.6 points in the first 19 games of the season. Opponents average 64.8 ppg. The Buckeyes have made 49 percent of their field goals (520-1,065), while allowing opponents to make 42 percent (475-1,120). From the foul line, Ohio State has taken 389 shots, making 283 (.728), while foes have gone to the line 263 times, making 177 (.673). Balance has been the norm with four players averaging 10 or more points a game. Je’Kel Foster leads the team with 14.6 ppg. with Terence Dials close behind at 14.2 ppg. Ron Lewis (12.4 ppg.), and J.J. Sullinger (10.1 ppg.) follow. Dials averages 7.3 rebounds a game to pace the squad.
DIALS CLIMBING SCORING CHART
Senior Terence Dials has 1,347 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 139 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 757 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 1,347 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 1,112, which includes 235 scored as a Buckeye. Senior J.J. Sullinger has scored 1,078 career points. He played one season at Arkansas, scoring 273 points in 2001-02, and now is in his third year at Ohio State.
WOLVERINES FALL AT IOWA
Michigan fell 94-66 at Iowa last Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Wolverines had control in the first half, but the Hawkeyes, who have not surrendered a victory at home in 15 games, shot 65.3 percent (32-of-49) overall compared to the Wolverines’ 41.5 percent (22-of-53) to cut off Michigan’s winning streak at five games. Despite the loss, UM had a trio of players reach double digits with senior Daniel Horton scoring a team-leading 19 points. Horton shot 5-of-10 from the floor with one triple including 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Junior Dion Harris recorded 13 points, hitting 4-of-10 from the floor with three from beyond the arc. Junior Courtney Sims rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 tallies on 4-of-6 shooting with six boards.
FOUR WOLVERINES AVERAGE DOUBLE DIGITS FOR 16-4 SQUAD
Daniel Horton leads Michigan in scoring witn an average of 16.5 points a game. He is followed by Courtney Sims (12.3 ppg.), Dion Harris (12.1 ppg.) and Lester Abram (11.5 ppg.). Braham Brown leads the team in rebounding with 7.6 points a game.
ON THIS DATE
Ohio State is 16-19 on this date.
| Date | W/L | Opponent | Score |
| 2/9/99 | W | @Kenton | 10-8 |
| 2/9/01 | L | Circleville | 7-8 |
| 2/9/05 | W | Wooster | 37-19 |
| 2/9/07 | L | @Denison | 11-22 |
| 2/9/15 | W | @Iowa | 17-16 |
| 2/9/17 | L | Purdue | 28-29 |
| 2/9/18 | W | Indiana | 28-22 |
| 2/9/20 | L | Illinois | 27-35 |
| 2/9/24 | W | @Iowa | 26-24 |
| 2/9/29 | L | @Michigan | 24-34 |
| 2/9/35 | L | Iowa | 12-24 |
| 2/9/42 | L | @Iowa | 44-52 |
| 2/9/45 | W | @Wisconsin | 63-34 |
| 2/9/46 | W | Indiana(ot) | 53-52 |
| 2/9/48 | L | @Northwestern | 45-47 |
| 2/9/52 | L | @Michigan State | 52-70 |
| 2/9/53 | W | Minnesota | 81-71 |
| 2/9/57 | L | @Indiana | 59(12)-69 |
| 2/9/63 | W | Wisconsin | 94-70 |
| 2/9/71 | W | @Purdue | 69-67 |
| 2/9/74 | L | @Michigan | 68-91(16) |
| 2/9/76 | L | Michigan | 66-90 |
| 2/9/78 | L | @Michigan | 74-85 |
| 2/9/80 | W | Michigan State | 71(13)-59 |
| 2/9/83 | W | @Wisconsin | 68-65 |
| 2/9/84 | W | Minnesota | 73-62 |
| 2/9/85 | L | @Wisconsin | 78-92 |
| 2/9/87 | W | Michigan State | 90-72 |
| 2/9/89 | L | @Illinois | 60(16)-62(7) |
| 2/9/91 | W | Northwestern | 96(3)-64 |
| 2/9/94 | L | @Minnesota | 73-79(23) |
| 2/9/99 | W | Michigan | 74(13)-69 |
| 2/9/00 | L | Iowa | 64(5)-67 |
| 2/9/03 | L | @Illinois | 57-76(16) |
| 2/9/05 | L | @Michigan St. | 69-83 (13) |
OHIO STATE VS. THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Ohio State is 680-650 vs. the current members of the Big Ten Conference.
OSU vs. The Big Ten
| Illinois | 60-100 |
| Indiana | 70-99 |
| Iowa | 66-73 |
| Michigan | 83-70 |
| Michigan State | 46-59 |
| Minnesota | 75-53 |
| Northwestern | 105-44 |
| Penn State | 20-13 |
| Purdue | 74-78 |
| Wisconsin | 81-61 |
| Totals | 680-650 |
OHIO STATE VS. MINNESOTA
Je’Kel Foster made a career-high seven 3-pointers in eight attempts and scored 25 points to lead No. 20 Ohio State to a 67-53 victory over Minnesota last Saturday. Foster’s only miss behind the arc came on the Buckeyes’ first shot after they won the opening tip. He was 8-of-10 from the field, made both of his free throws and had three assists and two steals in 37 minutes. Terence Dials had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Buckeyes, while Jamar Butler added 10 points. The Buckeyes finished 9-of-20 on 3-pointers and shot 59 percent from the field in the second half to pull away. Freshman Jamal Abu-Shamala had a career-best 16 points and Adam Boone added 10 for the Gophers. Minnesota, which had a 30-24 rebound advantage, stayed in contact with the Buckeyes until J.J. Sullinger scored on a follow midway through the second half and Foster made a 3-pointer in front of Ohio State’s bench off an inbounds play. That made it 52-42 with 9 1/2 minutes remaining and the Golden Gophers never got closer than seven points again.
NOTING THE MINNESOTA GAME
* Ohio State is 43-17 all-time vs. Big Ten competition at Value City Arena and is 3-1 this season. The Buckeyes are 6-1 vs. Minnesota at VCA.
* In the all-time series, the Buckeyes own a 75-53 advantage overall and are 47-18 in Columbus. Ohio State is 21-3 vs. the Golden Gophers in games when the Buckeyes are ranked in the Top 25.
* Ohio State, ranked No. 20 in the Jan. 30 Associated Press Poll, is 319-103 (.755) while playing as a ranked team. The Buckeyes are 19-4 vs. Big Ten Conference opponents at Value City Arena when ranked in the AP poll.
* With 15 points, senior Terence Dials moved into the No. 21 spot all time in career scoring with 1,347 career points. He is within 21 points of No. 20 Brent Darby (2000-03), who finished his career with 1,368.
* Dials is in the No. 8 spot in career rebounding at Ohio State. He had nine vs. Minnesota. He has 757 for his career. No. 7 Dave Sorenson is next on the all-time list with 761 from 1968-70.
* Je’Kel Foster scored 25 points vs. Minnesota, three shy of his career high. Ohio State is 23-2 when Foster scores 10 or more points in a game. He also made seven of eight 3-point attempts, setting a career high for treys made in a game and taking over the No. 3 spot at Ohio State for 3-point field goal percentage in a game. His .875 percentage from behind the arc against Minnesota is third behind perfect 5-for-5 efforts of Brian Brown vs. Florida State (11/23/00) and Rick Yudt vs. Morgan State (12/22/94). The Buckeyes are 20-3 when Foster makes 3 or more treys in a game.
* With seven treys vs. the Golden Gophers, Foster now rates No. 9 all-time in career 3-pointers made at Ohio State with 115. He replaced Jamaal Brown (1989-92), who was in attendance Saturday as part of Ohio State’s annual captain’s weekend, and Chris Jent (1989-92). Brown made 109 career treys at Ohio State and Jent made 112.
* Foster is the Ohio State leader in single season and career 3-point shooting percentage after knocking down 7 of 8 vs. the Golden Gophers. He has made 53 of 107 this season for a long range shooting percentage of .495. He has connected on 115 of 252 (.456) for his OSU career.
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.
