Buckeyes Take No. 1 Seed Into Big Ten Tournament Play – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Big Ten Tournament Cover
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Big Ten Tournament Notes
Post Season Bio Pages
Big Ten Tournament Inside Back Cover
Big Ten Tournament Back Cover
Date March 10, 2006
Opp vs. Penn State or Northwestern
Site Conseco Fieldhouse (18,345)
Game Time Noon EST
Television ESPN
Local TV None
TV Talent Brent Musburger (P-by-P), Steve Lavin (Expert Analysis), Erin Andrews (Sideline)
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)
DIALS, MATTA ADD HARDWARE TO COLLECTION
Ohio State senior Terence Dials was selected as the 2006 Big Ten Player of the Year by the league coaches and media, the league office announced Tuesday. Thad Matta, second-year head coach of the Buckeyes, was named the league’s coach of the year. The conference media vote for that award. In addition to taking both top honors this season, the Buckeyes also were represented on all-league teams by senior Je’Kel Foster, second team by the coaches and third team by the media, and sophomore Jamar Butler, a third-team media selection. Butler was an honorable mention honoree by the conference coaches. Foster earned a spot on the coaches’ all-defensive team and was a sportsmanship award honoree. BUCKEYES OPEN BIG TEN TOURNAMENT AS No. 1 SEED, FACE 9 vs. 9 WINNER
Ohio State secured the outright Big Ten Title for 2006 with a 76-57 victory Sunday against Purdue in Columbus. The Buckeyes will take on either No. 8 seed Penn State or No. 9 Northwestern at noon Friday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed for the second time and will be among the Top 3 seeds for the fifth time in program history.
OSU BIG TEN TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Buckeyes are 8-7 all-time in Big Ten Tournament play since the event began in 1998. Ohio State has one tournament title (2002) and one second-place finish (2003). The Buckeyes will be the No. 1 seed in 2006.
| Year (seed) | W/L | Opp. (seed) | Score |
| 1998 (11) | L | Indiana (6) | 78-71 |
| 1999 (2) | W | Michigan(10) | 87-69 |
| L | Illinois (11) | 79-77 | |
| 2000 (1) | L | Penn State (9) | 71-66 |
| 2001 (3) | L | Iowa (6) | 75-66 |
| 2002 (2) | W | Michigan (10) | 75-68 |
| W | Illinois (3) | 94-88 | |
| W | Iowa (9) | 81-64 | |
| 2003 (8) | W | Iowa (9) | 66-64 |
| W | Wisconsin (1) | 58-50 | |
| W | Mich. St. (5) | 55-54 | |
| L | Illinois (2) | 72-59 | |
| 2004 (9) | L | Indiana (8) | 83-69 |
| 2005 (6) | W | Penn State (11) | 72-69 |
| L | Wisconsin (3) | 49-60 | |
| 2006 (1) | PSU or N’Western |
BUCKEYES ENTER POSTSEASON PLAY 9-1 IN LAST 10
Ohio State surged down the stretch in Big Ten Conference play, winning eight of the last nine league games and nine of 10 overall. Senior Terence Dials averaged 16.6 points and 9.6 rebounds over the final 10 games of the regular season, which included five double-doubles, all in league play. He connected on 62 percent of his field goals (70-113), blocked 10 shots and was credited with 12 steals. Senior Je’Kel Foster averaged 12.4 points with 26 steals down the stretch. He knocked down 14 of 15 foul shots and played a team-high 35 minutes per game. Sophomore Jamar Butler averaged 12.0 points, handed out 46 assists and shot 91 percent from the foul line (29-32) down the stretch.
MATTA GRABS 4TH LEAGUE TITLE IN THIRD DIVISION I CONFERENCE
Head coach Thad Matta guided the Buckeyes to at least a share of the 2006 Big Ten Conference regular-season title with the team’s 56-53 win at Northwestern March 1. Matta’s Buckeyes claimed the title outright with a 76-57 win vs. Purdue in Columbus last Sunday. The championship this year gives Matta four league regular season titles in his 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 was tabbed the Big Ten’s coach of the year earlier this week, his third honor in as many leagues in his six years as a collegiate coach.
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 LOCK DOWN 18th TITLE
Ohio State secured the outright 2006 regular season Big Ten title with the win vs. Purdue in the season finale last Sunday. The Buckeyes have won 18 league championships in school history. The 2006 championship is the first since 2002. Ohio State has won 11 outright league titles and seven shared championships. The last outright title was achieved in 1992.
BUCKEYES TOUGH TO BEAT AT HOME UNDER MATTA, COULD SET RECORD
Thad Matta has directed the Buckeyes to a 31-3 record in Columbus in two seasons as head coach of the Buckeyes. He is 30-3 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 30-3 mark at VCA (13-3 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 set the building record with 16 victories this year. Ohio State won 15 games in both 1999-2000 and 2001-02 at VCA.
DIALS EARNS BIG TEN PLAYER OF WEEK HONORS, HIS THIRD CAREER AWARD
Senior Terence Dials was honored Feb. 27 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 to earn the award. 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 final week of the season.
OHIO STATE REACHES 10+ LEAGUE WINS FOR 28th TIME
The recent win vs. Michigan (64-54) Feb. 25 upped the Buckeyes’ Big Ten record to 10-4. Ohio State (12-4 in league play after the win vs. Purdue March 5) 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 18 times and finished second on five occasions.
DIALS ON DOUBLE-DOUBLE STREAK
Senior Terence Dials recorded 10+ points and rebounds in each of the five games leading up to the contest at Northwestern March 1. The streak was the longest double-double run of his career. The string ended in Evanston, where Dials tallied 18 points and seven boards. 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 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. He averaged 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds during the double-double run. 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. 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 127 career games at Ohio State, good for the No. 3 (tie) spot all-time. He is tied with Ken Johnson (127/1998-01) and Jamaal Brown (127/1989-92). Dials will play at least 128 career games in an OSU uniform. Brian Brown (1999-2002) is No. 2 with 129 games played and Jerry Francis is No. 1 with 133 appearances from 1986-89.
OHIO STATE VS. PENN ST., NORTHWESTERN
Ohio State has won both games this year vs. Penn State and Northwestern. The Buckeyes improved to 20-13 vs. the Nittany Lions during the 2006 Big Ten season. Ohio State has met PSU on neutral courts three times and is 2-1 in those games, including a 72-69 win vs. the Nittany Lions in the 2005 Big Ten Conference Tournametn opener in Chicago a year ago. Ohio State will be looking for the seventh-consecutive win in the Penn State series. The Buckeyes swept all-three meetings in 2005 and could turn the trick again should the Nittany Lions advance to face the Buckeyes.
Northwestern and Ohio State never have met on neutral ground in the all-time series, which stands at 107-44 in OSU’s favor. The Buckeyes have a 13-game win streak in the series. Ohio State downed the Wildcats 61-52 Feb. 18 in Columbus and then escaped with a 56-53 victory March 1 in Evanston.
When Ohio State is ranked nationally in the Associated Press Poll, the Buckeyes are 30-2 all-time vs. Northwestern and 6-2 vs. the Nittany Lions.
BUCKEYES SHOW BALANCE IN NORTHWESTERN SERIES
A trio of Buckeyes average 10 points a game in the series with the Wildcats. Junior Ron Lewis and senior Terence Dials pace the Buckeyes with an average of 10.3 points a game vs. the Wildcats. Lewis has appeared in four games vs. Northwestern with two of those meetings coming during his career at Bowling Green. Dials has appeared in six games vs. the Wildcats. Senior J.J. Sullinger averages 10 points a game in four career meetings while sophomore Jamar Butler contributes 9.7 ppg. Sullinger is Ohio State’s leading rebounder vs. NU with 5.8 a contest. Dials averages 5.7 rebounds a game in the Northwestern series. He also shoots 64 percent from the field (28-44) against NU.
LEWIS LEADS BUCKEYES VS. PSU
Junior Ron Lewis averaged 20.5 points in the two games vs. Penn State this year. He is one of three Buckeyes scoring 10 or more points in the Penn State series. Je’Kel Foster averages 12.4 points in five career meetings with the Nittany Lions while J.J. Sullinger scores 10.0 points a contest in seven career meetings vs. PSU. Foster is the top Buckeye rebounder vs. the Nittany Lions with an average of 5.6 a game. Sullinger shoots 61 percent from the field vs. the Nittany Lions, making 26 of 43 field goals. Lewis has scored on 68 percent of his field goal attempts in his two career games vs. PSU (15-22).
BUCKEYES ENTER BIG TEN TOURNAMENT AMONG NATION’S TOP 10
Ohio State improved to No. 7 in the Associated Press (media) and ESPN/USA Today (coaches) polls after a pair of Big Ten wins last week. The Buckeyes knocked off Northwestern in Evanston 56-53 March 1 and then handled Purdue 76-57 in Columbus March 5. Ohio State is 23-4 overall and 12-4 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, Feb. 15). The Buckeyes are 326-104 (.758) 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 198-52 (.792) 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 35-5 overall, 22-4 vs. Big Ten teams and 12-1 vs. non-conference foes at Value City Arena when ranked by the 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 HEAD TO POSTSEASON LEADING BIG TEN OFFENSIVELY
The Buckeyes find themselves leading the Big Ten Conference in several areas heading into the 2006 Big Ten Conference Tournament in Indianapolis this week. Ohio State is No. 1 in scoring offense (76.5 ppg.), turnover margin (+2.30) and assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.29). The Buckeyes are No. 2 in scoring margin (+12.4), 3-point shooting percentage (.388), 3-point shooting pct. defense (.311), assists (15.96) and 3-point field goals made (8.56). In league games only, Ohio State is the leader in scoring offense (73.4 ppg.), scoring margin (+9.2 ppg.), 3-pt. FG pct. (133-361/.368), 3-pt. FG pct. defense (79-279/.288), turnover margin (+3.00) and assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.38).
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).
MATTA REACHES 6th 20-WIN SEASON
Thad Matta does not 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 23-4 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 23-4 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 107 of 130 games (.823).
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 27-7 in sold-out games at Value City Arena, which includes a 23-5 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) were sold out in 2005-06.
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 game 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 44.7 percent of his treys this season (71-159). His career 3-point shooting percentage is 43.8 percent (133-304). His career shooting percentage from long range ranks No. 2 all-time at Ohio State. His season shooting percentage from long range this year is the best all-time at OSU.
BUTLER STEADY AT THE POINT
Sophomore guard Jamar Butler is No. 2 in the Big Ten with a +2.69 assist-to-turnover ratio in all games. In league games only, Butler has handed out 71 assists with just 27 turnovers for a +2.63 ratio, which ranks No. 2. Butler averages 4.4 assists and 1.7 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 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 eighth-consecutive season, all of which were played at Value City Arena, Ohio State finished among the Top 18 teams nationally in average attendance in 2005-06. The Buckeyes averaged 15,390 fans in 17 home games at VCA. Overall, in 130 games at VCA, a total of 2,114,660 fans, 16,266 per game, have helped the Buckeyes to a record of 107-23 at the facility. Ohio State exceeded the 2 million mark in home attendance at VCA vs. Wisconsin (16,127) Jan. 18, 2006. 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.
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 71 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 43-16 (.729) 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 23-4 with an outright Big Ten title to his credit in his second year at the helm of 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 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 this season. The Buckeyes have made 231 of 595 3-point attempts on the season to date. The 231 made rates No. 3 all-time at OSU. The current team is on pace to make 239 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 8.5 3-pointers a game. The 595 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 (1/15/05) 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 a Big Ten-leading 76.5 points after 27 games this season. Opponents average 64.1 ppg. The Buckeyes have made 48 percent of their field goals (725-1,513), while allowing opponents to make 43 percent (671-1,572). From the foul line, Ohio State has taken 530 shots, making 385 (.726), while foes have gone to the line 359 times, making 243 (.677). Balance has been the norm with five players averaging 9.7 or more points a game. Terence Dials leads the team with 15.3 ppg. with Je’Kel Foster close behind at 13.3 ppg. Ron Lewis (11.4 ppg.), Jamar Butler (10.1 ppg.) and J.J. Sullinger (9.7 ppg.) follow. Dials averages 8.0 rebounds a game to pace the squad.
DIALS CLIMBING SCORING CHART
Senior Terence Dials has 1,492 career points, good for the No. 15 spot all-time in scoring at Ohio State. Dials cracked the Top 15 all-time in career scoring with 20 points his last time out vs. Purdue. Dials passed Jerry Francis (1986-89), who scored 1,486 career points during his Ohio State. Dials needs six points to move to the No. 14 spot, currently held by Troy Taylor (1982-85/1,497). With eight points, Dials will become one of just 14 players all-time to score 1,500 or more points in a career.
DIALS JOINS 800 CLUB, TOP 10
Senior Terence Dials notched career rebound No. 800 with 15 vs. Northwestern (Feb. 18). He has 834 boards to become one of seven Buckeyes to reach the 800 mark all-time. 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 1,492 points scored to date, good for the No. 15 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 1,185, which includes 308 scored as a Buckeye. Senior J.J. Sullinger has scored 1,148 career points. He played one season at Arkansas, scoring 273 points in 2001-02.
ON THIS DATE
Ohio State is 10-3 on March 10. The Buckeyes have won the last two games on this date, including a 72-69 victory vs. Penn State a year ago in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament in Chicago. The Buckeyes also won the 2002 Big Ten Tournament on this date in Indianapolis vs. Iowa (81-64).
| Date | W/L | Opponent | Score |
| 3/10/00 | W | @Circleville | 21-1 |
| 3/10/05 | W | Western Reserve | 58-3 |
| 3/10/17 | W | @Oberlin | 29-10 |
| 3/10/20 | W | @Ohio Wesleyan | 38-20 |
| 3/10/62 | W | Indiana | 90(1)-65 |
| 3/10/73 | W | @Michigan | 102-86 |
| 3/10/84 | L | @Indiana | 49-53 |
| 3/10/90 | W | Minnesota | 93-83(19) |
| 3/10/91 | L | @Iowa | 69(2)-80 |
| 3/10/93 | W | Minnesota | 69-58 |
| 3/10/00 | L | vs. Penn State | 66(4)-71 |
| 3/10/02 | W | vs. Iowa | 81(21)-64 |
| 3/10/05 | W | vs. Penn State | 72-69 |
DIALS, SENIORS LEAD OHIO STATE IN FINAL HOME GAME
Terence Dials scored 20 points and the ninth-ranked Buckeyes broke the game open with a 14-2 blitz to start the second half to beat Purdue 76-57, clinching their first outright Big Ten title in 14 years. J.J. Sullinger had 16 points for the Buckeyes, who won their last five games of the regulr season to claim the top seed for the 2006 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. Jamar Butler added 15 points. Je’Kel Foster contributed eight points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals – and got the loudest reception when he left the game with a minute and a half left. The Buckeyes have prospered with a lineup that includes three fifth-year players and another senior who always seemed to make plays when most needed. The outright title is the school’s first since Jim Jackson was the star in 1992. It also marked the first time a Big Ten school has captured outright titles in men’s and women’s basketball in the same season. Gary Ware scored 25 points for Purdue.
NOTING THE PURDUE GAME
Ohio State secured the No. 1 seed in the 2006 Big TenConference Tournament and the outright regular-season Big Ten titlewith the win vs. the Boilermakers. Ohio State finished the regularseason 23-4 overall and 12-4 in the league. The 12 league wins thisseason are the most since Ohio State won 13 Big Ten games in 2000.Ohio State won for the 16th time this season at home, setting anall-time and Value City Arena record for home wins in a season. TheBuckeyes are 107-23 all-time in Value City Arena, which includes a7-1 record in conference games this year. Ohio State won 15 gamesin both 1999-2000 and 2001-02 at VCA. The Buckeyes are 47-17 at VCAvs. the Big Ten with a 6-0 record vs. Purdue. The game vs. Purduemarked the fifth sellout of the season for the Buckeyes. Ohio Stateis 27-7 in sold-out games at Value City Arena, which includes a23-5 record vs. Big Ten opponents. The games vs. Michigan State(1/15), Illinois (2/12), Northwestern (2/18), Michigan (2/25) andPurdue (3/5) were sellouts this season. The Buckeyes improved to75-78 and have won 11 of the last 12 meetings vs. Purdue. TheBuckeyes own the advantage in Columbus (50-27). When the Buckeyesare ranked in the AP Top 25, Ohio State is 21-4 vs. theBoilermakers. Ohio State has won its last seven games when rankedvs. Purdue and 10 of the last 11 overall when ranked vs. theBoilermakers. Six senior members of the Ohio State men’s basketballteam were honored in pregame ceremonies. Fifth-year seniors TerenceDials, Matt Sylvester and J.J. Sullinger along with Je’Kel Fosterand managers Dan Gill and Troy Brooks all participated in theirfinal home game as Buckeyes. Ohio State is 326-104 (.758) whenplaying as a ranked team in the AP poll. Overall, the Buckeyes are198-52 (.792) when playing with a Top 10 AP ranking. The Buckeyesare 35-5 overall, 23-4 vs. Big Ten teams and 12-1 vs.non-conference foes at Value City Arena when ranked by the AP. ThadMatta has directed the Buckeyes to a 31-3 record in Columbus in twoseasons as head coach of the Buckeyes. He is 30-3 overall at ValueCity Arena, which includes a 17-0 record vs. non-conference foes.Matta’s 30-3 mark at VCA (13-3 vs. the Big Ten) is the besttwo-year record in the facility since Ohio State teams were 29-3 inthe first two years the building was open (14-1 in 1998-99, 15-2 in1999-00). The Buckeyes were 30-1 at home during the 1990-91 (15-0)and 1991-92 (15-1) seasons. Terence Dials is tied for the No. 3spot in career games played with 127 career appearances. He isknotted with Ken Johnson (1998-01) and Jamaal Brown (1989-92).Brian Brown is No. 2 with 129 career appearances from 1999-2002.Dials has 1,492 career points, good for the No. 15 spot all-time inscoring at Ohio State, after his 20-point effort vs. theBoilermakers. Dials passed Jerry Francis (1986-89), who scored1,486 career points during his Ohio State career. Dials heads topostseason play with 834 career rebounds, good for the No. 6position all-time. He trails No. 5 Clark Kellogg (1980-82, 872).Ohio State ended the regular season 18-2 when leading at the half,21-1 when leading with 5:00 to play in the game, 21-4 when holdingthe opponent under 50 percent shooting. Senior Je’Kel Fosterfinished with five steals to give him (66) for the season, 4th(tied) most in OSU history for a single season. Sophomore JamarButler finished with five assists. Ohio State is 20-3 in games inwhich Butler hands out 4 or more assists the last two seasons.
OHIO STATE VS. THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
Ohio State is 687-651 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 | 107-44 |
| Penn State | 20-13 |
| Purdue | 75-78 |
| Wisconsin | 81-62 |
| Totals | 687-651 |
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.
