No. 4 Ohio State Travels To Purdue Wednesday – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 30, 2007
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Date: Jan. 31, 2007
Opponent: Purdue (14-7, 3-4)
Site: Mackey Arena (14,123)
Game Time: 7 p.m. ET
Television: ESPN2
Local TV: None
TV Talent: Brent Musburger (P-by-P), Steve Lavin (Expert Analysis)
Radio: OSU Radio Network (60 stations)
Local Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent: Paul Keels (P-by-P), Ron Stokes (Expert Analysis)
ODEN CLAIMS OHIO STATE’S SECOND BIG TEN WEEKLY HONOR
Greg Oden, a freshman center on the Ohio State men’s basketball team, averaged a double-double last week in a pair of wins for the fifth-ranked Buckeyes to earn the Big Ten’s Player of the Week honor, which he shared with Wisconsin’s Alando Tucker this week. Oden’s 18 points per game and 11.5 rebound average led Ohio State to victories at Northwestern and at home against Michigan State. He connected on 59 percent of his field goals (10-17) and 67 percent of his foul shots (16-24). Oden continues to shoot with his off hand, his left, from the foul line as his natural shooting right wrist heals from offseason surgery.
Against Northwestern, Oden recorded a career-high 17 rebounds. Northwestern had 19 rebounds as a team. His 11-of-14 shooting from the foul line against Michigan State was instrumental in Ohio State’s 66-64 victory over the Spartans. With a scoring average of 15.6 points a game, which leads the Buckeyes, Oden has the fourth-highest scoring average among OSU freshmen all time. His .637 season field goal shooting percentage is the best freshman shooting average and his 9.8 rebounds a game and total of 50 blocks rank No. 2 among all-time OSU rookies. CONLEY’S NUMBERS MOUNT DURING BIG TEN SEASON
Ohio State freshman Mike Conley Jr. has orchestrated five-consecutive wins for the Buckeyes from his point guard position. In wins vs. Northwestern (1/17) and Iowa (1/20), Conley handed out 10 assists in each game, was credited with eight steals, became Ohio State’s all-time leader in assists by a freshman (138), posted back-to-back games with 10 assists for the first time since 1988, averaged a double-double with 12.5 points and 10.0 assists, recorded a career high with 17 points (vs. Northwestern), shot 63 percent from the field (10-16) and played 66 minutes with just four turnovers. In seven Big Ten games, Conley averages 7.4 assists, 2.6 steals and an incredible +4.7 assist-to-turnover ratio (52/11). Three of his four 10-assist games this season have come against Big Ten foes (Indiana, Northwestern and Iowa).
RECENT GAMES HELP ODEN’S NUMBERS
Freshman center Greg Oden improved his scoring average to 15.6 points a game while his rebounding average is just below double digits at 9.8 boards a game following his 55 point, 33-rebound totals of the last three games.
OSU FRESHMEN SETTING RECORDS
Ohio State freshmen are setting rookie records this season with several games still to come. Point guard Mike Conley Jr. has four games this season in which he has handed out 10 assists, which ties an OSU record. The last time an Ohio State player, regardless of class, handed out 10 or more assists four times in a season was Curtis Wilson in 1987-88 as a senior. Wilson’s four games with 10+ assists, included a school record 14-assist game at Purdue (1/7/88). Conley’s 10-assist games rate No. 2 in the freshman records book behind the 11 handed out by Damon Stringer against Central Connecticut State in 1995. In the single game steals category, Conley is tied for the top spot among freshmen all-time at OSU with five thefts twice this year. He also has five of the Top 6 games for a rookie with four or more steals. His 138 assists are a freshman record and Conley’s 54 steals on the year are seven behind Michael Redd’s 61 in 1998. Greg Oden is No. 4 among OSU freshmen in scoring average (15.6 ppg.), No. 1 in field goal percentage (.637/79-124), No. 2 in rebounding (9.8 rpg.) and No. 2 in blocked shots (50). Daequan Cook is No. 5 in freshman scoring (13.0 ppg), No. 8 in field goal percentage (.510/104-204), No. 1 in 3-point shooting pct. (.464/39-84) and No. 4 in 3-pointers made (39).
CONLEY AMONG TOP 5 NATIONALLY IN ASSISTS
Freshman Mike Conley Jr. averages 6.57 assists a game for the Buckeyes this season. He leads the Big Ten with 138 assists and is No. 5 nationally. Conley’s 54 steals, which also lead all conference players, are second most in the OSU rookie records book behind No. 1 Michael Redd’s 61 in 1998. Conley’s steals average (2.57 spg.) is No. 15 nationally.
CONLEY JR., BUTLER ON POINT
Ohio State’s point guard tandem of Mike Conley Jr. and Jamar Butler rate Nos. 1 and 8, respectively, in assists and Nos. 1 and 4 in assist/turnover ratio among all Big Ten players. The pair has combined to hand out 219 assists while committing 82 turnovers (+2.67 a/t ratio). Conley’s 138 assists this season has him on pace to break Ohio State’s single season record for assists (188) currently held by Curtis Wilson (1984-88) as a senior. Conley is on pace for a 204-assist season with a minimum of 10 games remaining on the OSU schedule. Butler recorded 144 assists as a sophomore, good for the No. 8 spot all-time at OSU in single-season assists. He is on pace for 119 assists this year. With 299 to date, Butler needs 28 to take over the No. 10 spot all time for career assists currently held by Carter Scott (1978-81) with 326.
FIVE BUCKEYES RECORD DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Five different Ohio State players have recorded a double-double this season to date after freshman Mike Conley Jr. scored a career-high 17 points to go with 10 assists in a 73-41 win over Northwestern Jan. 17. Freshmen Daequan Cook and Greg Oden, junior Othello Hunter and senior Ron Lewis each have scored 10 or more points while grabbing at least 10 boards in a game already this year. The last time an Ohio State team had five different players record double doubles was in 1994-95 (Antonio Watson, Kevin Martin, Carlos Davis, Rickey Dudley and Doug Etzler). Ohio State is 511-246 (.675) in games when at least one Buckeye has a double-double.
ODEN’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE IN DEBUT MATCHES WILLIAMS’ EFFORT IN 1977
When Ohio State freshman Greg Oden took the court for the first time Dec. 2 little did he know he would be on his way to matching one of Ohio State’s all-time greats’ career-opening efforts. With 14 points and 10 rebounds Oden became the first freshman to reach double digits in scoring and rebounding in his freshman debut since Ohio State Hall of Famer (HOF Class of 1999) Herb Williams did so in his first game as a Buckeye in 1977. Williams, who finished his career No. 2 in career scoring with 2,011 points, rebounding with 1,111 career boards and blocked shots with 328, scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 99-82 victory against California-Hayward Nov. 25, 1977. Williams went on to record 59 double-doubles for his career, second only to Jerry Lucas’ 78 in 82 career games.
OHIO STATE TOPS BIG TEN IN SEVERAL AREAS
The Buckeyes have put together a successful season with 18 wins in 21 outings. The effort to date also has the team leading the 11 Big Ten schools in several statistical areas. Ohio State leads league institutions in scoring (77.0 ppg.), field goal shooting percentage (.487), 3-pointers made (8.52 pg.) and defensive rebounds (25.19). Ohio State is second in scoring margin (+15.6 ppg.), blocked shots (5.48), assists (16.29) and assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.24 apg.).
YOUNG BUCKS LEAD BIG TEN
Mike Conley Jr. finds himself leading the Big Ten Conference in three statistical categories. He leads the league with 54 steals (2.57 spg.), has the best assist/turnover ratio (+3.21) and the highest assists per game average (6.57 apg.). Classmate Daequan Cook is No. 3 in 3-point shooting percentage (.464/39-84).
BUCKEYES DO WELL OUTSIDE THE LINE UNDER MATTA
Thad Matta’s Buckeyes shoot the 3-point shot and shoot it well. In three seasons as the Ohio State head coach the Buckeyes have made 10 or more 3-point shots in 28 games. The Buckeyes are 23-5 in those contests, which includes a 5-2 record this season. Ohio State had a streak of 17-consecutive wins with 10+ made 3s snapped at North Carolina (Nov. 29) earlier this season when Ohio State connected on 13 of 26 treys but fell to the Tar Heels 98-89 in Chapel Hill. All-time, the Buckeyes have made 10+ 3-pointers 45 times, with wins in 38 of those games (.844). Matta’s teams have been involved in 62 percent of all games with 10 or more made 3s by the Buckeyes (28 of 45). Opponents have made 10+ treys 63 times with a record of 29-34 against OSU in those games.
HIGH PERCENTAGE SHOTS PAY OFF
The Buckeyes enjoy success from long range but the team still takes advantage of its opportunities down low as well. In the last three years under head coach Thad Matta the Buckeyes have made at least half their shots in 30 games, which includes 12 of 20 games this season. Ohio State is 27-3 under Matta when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, including an 11-1 record this season.
BUCKEYES COMPLETE TOUGH STRETCH 3-1 VS. 2006 NCAA TEAMS
Ohio State completed one of the more difficult stretches of its 2006-07 schedule with games vs. Indiana Jan. 2 (W 74-67), Illinois Jan. 6 (W 62-44), Wisconsin Jan. 9 (L 72-69) and Tennessee Jan. 13 (W 68-66). All four games were against teams that qualified for the NCAA tournament a year ago. After playing at then-No. 3 Wisconsin, Ohio State has played each of the Top 3 teams nationally on the road. Ohio State played at No. 1 Florida, at No. 2 Wisconsin and at No. 3 North Carolina earlier this year.
MATTA’S BUCKEYES HIT DOUBLE DIGITS BEFORE NEW YEAR FOR THIRD TIME
Ohio State opened Big Ten play against Indiana with 11 wins. Thad Matta’s teams have recorded 10 or more victories before ringing in the new year in each of his three seasons at Ohio State. His first team was 11-2 in 2004-05 and the 2005-06 squad was 10-0 before Jan. 1. Matta’s teams have never failed to reach 20 victories in each of his six previous seasons as a head coach, which includes a one-year stint at Butler and three seasons at Xavier.
BUCKEYES GO 4-0 VS. OHIO TEAMS
The game with Cincinnati was the fourth against a school from Ohio this year for the Buckeyes. Kent State (W 81-59), Youngstown State (W 91-57) and Cleveland State (W 78-57) all played in Columbus this year with the Buckeyes meeting Cincinnati (W 72-50) in Indianapolis Dec. 16. The last time Ohio State faced four in-state schools was in 1992-93 when Ohio University, Bowling Green and Wright State played in Columbus during non-conference play and Miami (Ohio) took on the Buckeyes in the National Invitation Tournament in March.
BUCKEYES REACH NO. 1 IN FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL FOR 2ND TIME
Three schools, Ohio State, UCLA and Notre Dame, have been ranked No. 1 in both football and men’s basketball at the same time, according to research performed by Tim Bourret, Clemson sports information director, who sought the information for a book project. Ohio State (18-3) has managed the feat twice after it moved to the No. 1 spot in men’s basketball Nov. 27 of this year in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll and to the No. 3 spot in the Associated Press writers poll that week. The Buckeyes were the first to reach No. 1 in both football and men’s basketball on Nov. 28, 1961 after the football Buckeyes defeated Michigan 50-20 (11/25/61) to claim the No. 1 spot in the United Press International poll. The basketball team was No. 1 the entire 1961-62 season until a loss to No. 2 Cincinnati in the title game March 24, 1962. The current Buckeye football team (12-1) finished No. 2 in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today polls, after spending the entire 2006 regular season ranked No. 1. UCLA was No. 1 in both sports the week of Nov. 13-19 in 1967. The Bruins were No. 1 in the AP and UPI football polls that week and had won the national championship in men’s basketball the previous March. The first poll of the college basketball season that fall was on Dec. 5, 1967. UCLA was No. 1. The Bruins then lost to USC in football, 21-20, in the next Saturday (Dec. 9, 1967) to drop from No. 1 spot in football. Notre Dame won the national championship (football) in the AP poll with a 24-23 win over Alabama in the Dec. 31, 1973 Sugar Bowl. The Fighting Irish basketball team then defeated UCLA 71-70 in basketball to end the Bruins’ 88-game winning streak and move to No. 1 in both basketball polls. That game was played Jan. 19, 1974 and Notre Dame was ranked No. 1 the next Monday. The Irish stayed No. 1 in basketball for just that week before traveling to UCLA for a rematch the following Saturday (Jan. 26, 1974, where they lost to the Bruins. Both UCLA (Nov. 13, 1967) and Notre Dame (Jan. 21, 1974) were No. 1 for just one week in both football and men’s basketball.
BUCKEYES VS. THE RANKED
Ohio State is 46-39 all-time when playing in a game in which both teams are ranked. The Buckeyes are 213-54 (.798) when playing with an AP Top 10 ranking and 312-94 (.768) when playing with an AP Top 25 rating. Ohio State has been ranked among the AP’s Top 10 in each of the last 28 games dating back to March 1, 2006 (No. 9 at Northwestern). The Buckeyes are 23-5 during that stretch with losses to No. 10 Iowa (76-70, 3/12/06), vs. No. 23 Georgetown (70-52, 3/19/06), at No. 3 UNC (98-89, 11/29/06), at No. 5 Florida (86-60, 12/23/06) and at No. 3 Wisconsin (72-69, 1/9/07). Ohio State has been a Top 25 squad for the last 46 games (37-9) since Dec. 23, 2005 as the No. 24 team in a win vs. Tennessee St. (75-65).
MATTA REACHES 50 WINS AT OSU
Thad Matta coached game No. 200 in his seven-year head coaching career in the contest vs. Kent State Nov. 12. He recorded win No. 50 as a Buckeye vs. Eastern Kentucky the next time out Nov. 17. Matta is 166-52 overall, which includes a record of 64-21 at Ohio State. He needed just 68 games to win 50 as a Buckeye, the third fewest total games to record win No. 50 as a Buckeye head coach. Fred Taylor (1959-76) won his 50th game in his 64th contest as a Buckeye while Randy Ayers (1990-97) was the second-fastest to 50 wins, doing so in 67 Ohio State games.
| Coach | Date | gms to 50 | 50th win, Score |
| Taylor | 1/28/61 | 64 | Purdue, 92-62 |
| Ayers | 12/18/91 | 67 | @Santa Barbara, 82-75 |
| Matta | 11/17/06 | 68 | Eastern Ky., 74-45 |
| Miller | 12/2/79 | 76 | Tennessee, 91-65 |
| Williams | 1/7/89 | 79 | Wisconsin, 73-70 |
| Olsen | 2/22/27 | 80 | @Indiana, 27-18 |
| Dye | 2/27/50 | 83 | @Michigan, 69-58 |
| St. John | 1/1/17 | 92 | @ Elyria, 33-25 |
| O’Brien | 2/25/04 | 104 | @Minnesota, 70-59 |
| Stahl | 12/19/55 | 106 | @Tulane, 72-66 |
BUCKEYES TOUGH TO BEAT AT HOME UNDER MATTA
Thad Matta has directed the Buckeyes to a 46-3 record in Columbus in three seasons as head coach of the Buckeyes. He is 44-3 overall at Value City Arena, which includes a 27-0 record vs. non-conference foes. Ohio State defeated Chattanooga in November of 2005 at St. John Arena on the OSU campus and Youngstown State at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus earlier this season. The 30-1 mark over the last two seasons at VCA is the best two-year record in the facility since Ohio State began play in 1998-99. The Buckeyes set the building record with 16 victories in 2005-06.
| vs. the Big Ten | 17-3 |
| vs. non-conference | 27-0 |
| in 2004-05 | 14-2 (6-2 in Big Ten) |
| in 2005-06 | 16-1 (7-1 in Big Ten) |
| in 2006-07 | 14-0 (3-0 in Big Ten) |
| as OSU head coach | 44-3 |
| Total in Columbus | 46-3* |
* Includes 1 win each at St. John and Nationwide arenas in Columbus.
NOTING THE BUCKEYES
JAMAR BUTLER: The junior from Lima, Ohio, reached 500 career points vs. Cincinnati with three vs. the Bearcats … he has averaged 7.1 points over 84 career games, which includes 63 starts … Butler is a career 83 percent foul shooter (118-143) and averages 3.6 assists a game for his career … when Butler hands out four or more assists, Ohio State is 30-7 during his tenure … he needs one assist to reach 300 for his career and one point to reach 600 …. he is seven rebounds away from 300 as a Buckeyes … moved to the shooting guard position this year after spending his first two seasons as Ohio State’s primary point guard … second on squad with 81 assists and 19 steals.
Butler in the Big Ten:
| Assists | 8th (3.86 apg) |
| Asst./TO | 4th (+2.08) |
| 3 FGs made | 9th (2.15) |
IVAN HARRIS: A senior from Springfield, Ohio, Harris has played in 109 career games for the Buckeyes … reached 600 career points with nine vs. Tennessee (1/13) … in 21 games this season, his scoring average is up to 9.8 points a contest (5.8 career ppg.) … a career 40 percent shooter from 3-point range (110-273), Harris is nicknamed “Microwave” by his teammates for his ability to quickly heat up the Ohio State offense from long range … knocked down five 3s at UNC to tie a career high for made treys in a game … connected on five treys again at Wisconsin (1/9/07) to lead Ohio State with 17 points vs. the Badgers … reached double figures in a game for the first time in the rebounding category with 10 boards vs. Cleveland State (12/9) … current long range shooting percentage (.403) ranks No. 3 all-time.
RON LEWIS: The Columbus, Ohio, native eclipsed the 1,400 career point mark with seven points in the win vs. Iowa State Dec. 19 … needs 15 points to reach 1,500 for his collegiate career … with a career scoring average of 13.1 points a game in 113 appearances at Bowling Green (60 gms.) and Ohio State (53 gms.), his scoring average of 11.9 ppg. this season rates third among the Buckeyes … scored an Ohio State career high of 30 points at North Carolina on 11 of 16 shooting from the field Nov. 29.
MATT TERWILLIGER: The junior from Troy, Ohio, has scored 137 career points in 63 career appearances for the Buckeyes … recorded a career high 12 points in the win vs. Youngstown State (11/24) … knocked down his first career 3-point attempt against the Penguins while connecting on 5 of 6 FG attempts … moved to the center spot to start the season and returns to his natural power forward spot with the return of center Greg Oden from injury.
MIKE CONLEY, JR.: The freshman point guard from Indianapolis leads the Buckeyes with 138 assists and 54 steals this season … opened career with 10 assist game against VMI Nov. 10 and added another 10-assist outing in his first Big Ten game (vs. Indiana 1/2/07) and then again vs. Northwestern (1/17) and Iowa (1/20) … the 10-assist total is tied for the second-most assists in a single game by a freshman at Ohio State and is tied for the No. 9 spot all-time for assists in a game … handed out nine helpers against San Francisco Nov. 20 … his five steals vs. VMI is tied for the most in a game by an OSU rookie … also recorded five thefts vs. Youngstown State (11/24) … starts in all 21 games … averages 29.3 minutes a game … connected on all six FGs vs. Eastern Kentucky … shooting percentage is .521 (73-140) … made all seven foul shots in win vs. Iowa State … scored career-high 15 points to go with six assists and three steals vs. the Cyclones.
Conley Jr. in the Big Ten:
| Assists | 1st (6.57 apg.) |
| Steals | 1st (2.57 spg.) |
| Asst./TO | 1st (+3.21) |
| FG Pct. | 6th (.521/73-140) |
DAEQUAN COOK: Six outings of 20 or more points in his young career, including his first game as a Buckeye with 22 in the season opener vs. VMI and most recently in the win vs. Coppin State (12/30) with 23 … second on team with 13.0 points per game and is second with a 5.3 rebounds per game average … the Dayton, Ohio, native plays 22.1 minutes a game off the bench … has the ability to score both inside and from long range … connecting on 51 percent of his field goals (104-204) and 46 percent from 3-point range (39-84).
Cook in the Big Ten:
| FG Pct. | 8th (.510/104-204) |
| 3 FG Pct. | 3rd (.464/39-84) |
| Def. Rebs. | 7th (4.24 drpg.) |
GREG ODEN: Missed first field goal attempt as a Buckeye in debut against Valparaiso then made 17-consecutive shots without a miss before misfiring his final attempt in a 6-of-7 shooting performance against Cincinnati (Dec. 16) … was a perfect 8-for-8 in first career start in win vs. Cleveland State (12/9) … that effort ties four others (including Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek) for the school record for best field goal percentage in a game … conneced on 12 of 13 FGs (career high 29 points) vs. Iowa (1/20) for a single game shooting pct. of .923, which is tied for the No. 7 spot all time … then hit 6 of 7 shots at Northwestern (1/24) on his way to 17 points and a career best 17 rebounds … in back-to-back games vs. Iowa and Northwestern he knocked down 18 of 20 shots (.900) while grabbing 27 rebounds … has blocked 50 shots in 14 games … recorded 21 points in his Big Ten opener vs. Indiana (1/2) … posted an 18-point effort in 35 minutes vs. Iowa State (12/19) … tallied 18 points vs. Coppin State (12/30) on 7 of 8 shooting from the field … scored 24 points to go with 15 boards vs. Tennessee (1/13) … continues to regain flexibility in his right, natural shooting hand, wrist … shoots foul shots left-handed while right wrist recovers … made 9 of 10 lefty FTs vs. Indiana (1/2) and all six attempts vs. Tennessee (1/13) … made 16-consecutive foul shots before a miss at Northwestern (1/24) … first career point was a left-handed foul shot vs. Valparaiso (12/2) … has not played in enough games (75 percent of OSU total) to qualify for Big Ten individual statistical rankings … in league play, is No. 1 in rebounding (9.4 rpg.), blocked shots (25/3.57) and defensive rebounding (6.0 drpg.).
OTHELLO HUNTER: Eight starts to date for the Winston-Salem, N.C., native … averages 7.2 points and is third on team with 5.2 rebounds a game … shooting 57 percent (59-103) from the field … also second on the roster with 23 blocks this season … has six double-digit games offensively this season … has made 10-consecutive foul shots.
Hunter in the Big Ten:
| Off. Rebs. | 4th (2.76 orpg.) |
DAVID LIGHTY: Along with classmate Mike Conley Jr., David Lighty started his first career game for the Buckeyes, the first true rookie to do so since Michael Redd in the 1997 season opener … Lighty, a Cleveland, Ohio, native, plays 18 minutes a game … contributed with 10 points, his fourth career game with 10 or more points, in Ohio State’s win vs. Coppin State (12/30).
BUCKEYES WIN TIGHT BATTLE WITH MICHIGAN STATE
Greg Oden scored 19 points including several big second-half free throws and the fifth-ranked Buckeyes held off Michigan State 66-64. Maurice Joseph’s 3-pointer with just over a second left bounced off the rim, preserving the win for the Buckeyes, who won their fifth-consecutive overall and 21st in a row at home. Drew Neitzel, the smallest guy on the floor, almost led the Spartans to a dramatic comeback win. He scored 24 of his 29 points in the second half to draw Michigan State to within a point with less than a minute left. Neitzel continually hit clutch shots, regardless of who was guarding him. Oden hit a foul shot with 15.3 seconds left to put Ohio State ahead 66-64. Oden was 8-of-10 at the line in the second half. He finished 11-of-14 at the line and also had six rebounds and three blocked shots. Raymar Morgan scored 14 points for the Spartans. Butler had 12 points and six assists for the Buckeyes, with Daequan Cook adding 11 points – all in the first half when Ohio State took a 43-23 lead.
NOTING THE MICHIGAN STATE GAME
With the win Saturday, Ohio State extended its home winningstreak to 21 games dating back to a 77-67 win over Wisconsin Jan.18, 2006. The Buckeyes’ last home loss was Jan. 15, 2006, indouble-overtime, 62-59, against Michigan State. Ohio State’scurrent 21-game winning streak now stands alone as thethird-longest in program history. Under head coach Thad Matta, theBuckeyes now are 46-3 in Columbus and 44-3 at Value City Arena.Ohio State is now 17-3 in Big Ten games at VCA under Matta. Withthe win Saturday, Matta is now 2-2 in his career against MichiganState. The game Saturday marked Ohio State’s eighth sellout of theseason and seventh-consecutive sellout. When Value City Arena issold out, the Buckeyes are 35-7 overall and 27-5 in Big Tensellouts. With Michigan State’s .444 field goal percentage (24-54)Saturday, Ohio State now is 18-1 this season and 62-16 under Mattawhen its opponents shoot less than 50 percent from the field. TheBuckeyes held Michigan State to 64 points Saturday. Ohio State isnow 17-0 this season when holding opponents to less than 70 pointsand 57-9 under Matta. In Big Ten games only, Michigan State enteredthe game leading the league in scoring defense, allowing only 55.8points a game, but gave up 66 to the Buckeyes Saturday. Ohio Statejunior Jamar Butler handed out six assists Saturday againstMichigan State. The Buckeyes now are 30-7 when Butler hands outfour or more assists. Ohio State went on a 15-7 run early in thegame Saturday and then a 23-8 run to close out the first half enroute to a 43-23 lead at the intermission. The Buckeyes have led athalftime in all 14 home games this season and in 19 of 21 gamesoverall, with an 18-1 record in those games. Ohio State freshmanDaequan Cook connected on two 3-pointers Saturday, giving him 39treys for the season, good for second-most all-time among Buckeyefreshman. Cook trails Michael Redd (1998) by seven for No. 1 on thefreshman 3-pointers made list. Ohio State freshman Greg Odenconnected on a career-high 11 free throws Saturday against MichiganState. He was 11-for-14 from the line. Oden had three blocked shotsSaturday, giving him 50 for the season. The Ohio State freshmanrecord is 70, set by Herb Williams in 1978. Ken Johnson rankssecond with 58 rejections in 1998. With a pair of 3-point FGSaturday, Ivan Harris now stands at No. 10 all-time at Ohio Statewith 110 career makes from long range. At a .402 career clip(110-273), Harris ranks third all-time in 3-point FG percentage atOhio State. Mike Conley Jr. had a pair of steals Saturday to goalong with five assists. He now needs just eight swipes to passMichael Redd (61 steals in 1998) for No. 1 in steals in a freshmanseason. Ohio State is now 213-54 when playing with an AP Top 10ranking and 312-94 when playing with an AP Top 25 ranking. OhioState has been in the Top 10 for the last 28 games (23-5). OhioState led 61-56 with 5:00 minutes left in the game Saturday. TheBuckeyes are now 18-0 this season when leading with 5:00 remainingand 57-4 under Matta.
BUCKEYES WIN BCA CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE GAME AGAINST KENT STATE
Ron Lewis led Ohio State with 18 points and three teammates joined him in double figures as the Buckeyes went 3-0 in the BCA Classic to claim the title with an 81-59 win against Kent State Nov. 12 at Value City Arena. Jamar Butler, the only starter back from last season’s Big Ten champions, added 14 points, junior-college transfer Othello Hunter had 13 and freshman David Lighty finished with 10. Lewis was the tournament MVP for the Buckeyes. He was joined on the all-tournament team by freshman Daequan Cook. Nobody hit double figures for Kent State, the defending Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament champions. Omni Smith had nine points and three others had eight. The Buckeyes hit half of their 26 3-point attempts and ended up shooting 55 percent from the field. Kent State had 20 turnovers and hit just 4-of-15 shots behind the arc. Sub Ivan Harris hit three big 3-pointers that helped turn the tide.
OHIO STATE STAYING AMONG NATION’S TOP RATED PROGRAMS
Ohio State ended the 2006 season ranked No. 6 in the final Associated Press Poll and No. 13 in the last ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. This year, after losing four senior starters from 2005-06, the Buckeyes are currently ranked No. 4 in the coaches poll and No. 4 in the AP Top 25.
BUCKEYES TABBED NO. 1 IN BIG TEN
Big Ten Conference media selected Ohio State as its preseason favorite to win the league regular-season crown in 2006-07. The Buckeyes are looking to win back-to-back conference titles for the first time since 1991 and 1992 after winning the outright regular-season title in 2006. Ohio State returns one starter from a year ago when the Buckeyes posted a 26-6 overall record and a 12-4 league mark.
MEDIA SELECT ODEN TO SHINE
Freshman center Greg Oden had yet to play a collegiate game while recovering from right wrist surgery in June when he appeared on the preseason All-Big Ten list turned in by the conference media Oct. 29 in Chicago. The preseason recognition is believed to mark the first time a true freshman has been so recognized in conference history. Oden missed the first seven games of the season. He made his debut against Valparaiso Dec. 2. He recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 78-58 OSU victory. His first start came against Cleveland State Dec. 9. He finished with 16 points on 8 of 8 shooting from the field, which tied an OSU record for single game field goal percentage.
BUTLER ON WOODEN WATCH LIST
Junior guard Jamar Butler is one of 50 student-athletes participating in NCAA Division I basketball to appear on the John R. Wooden Award preseason watch list. The list will be cut to 30 in January. The award was created in 1976 and is annually given to the nation’s best player.
OSU FRESHMEN IN STARTING FIVE
Jamar Butler was the last true freshman to crack the starting lineup for the Buckeyes prior to the season opener vs. VMI when rookies Mike Conley Jr. and David Lighty earned starting nods for Thad Matta’s Buckeyes. Butler started his first game at Northwestern Jan. 29, 2005. He has been a mainstay in the first five ever since. The last true freshman to start the season opener prior to this season was Michael Redd vs. Kent State Nov. 19, 1997. Redd played 39 minutes and scored 21 points on 9 of 17 shooting from the field. He also had nine rebounds.
OHIO STATE ON NATIONAL TV
The Buckeyes will appear on national television at least 14 times this season with the possibility of additional exposures as the regular season concludes, during the Big Ten tournament and in postseason play-should Ohio State qualify. Fans across the country got their first look at Ohio State over national airwaves Nov. 29 when the Buckeyes traveled to North Carolina for a Big Ten/ACC Challenge matchup on ESPN. Cincinnati and Ohio State renewed a rivalry at the Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis on CBS Dec. 16. Other CBS games include the matchup at No. 1 Florida Dec. 23, a home game vs. Tennessee Jan. 13, at Michigan State Feb. 3, at Minnesota Feb. 18 and vs. Wisconsin in Columbus Feb. 25. The regular-season finale at Michigan also could be picked up by CBS. ESPN televised the Buckeyes vs. their first three Big Ten foes vs. Indiana (W 74-67, Jan. 2), at Illinois Jan. 6 (W 62-44) and at Wisconsin Jan. 9 (L 72-69). Four other league games will be featured on ESPN or ESPN2 during regular-season play.
MATTA GOES FOR 7TH WITH 20
Thad Matta does not know what it’s like to end a season with fewer than 20 wins during his head coaching career. The third 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 2004-05 and 26 a season ago 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. Mark Few of Gonzaga is the other with 20+ in all seven years with the Bulldogs. Matta has the Buckeyes off to an 18-3 start this season.
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.
BANNER IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS RECOGNIZES ODEN, DAVENPORT
A 160-foot banner is on display in downtown Columbus recognizing two of the more prominent centers in college basketball. Two-time All-American Jessica Davenport, a senior on the Ohio State women’s basketball team, along with two-time National High School Player of the Year Greg Oden, a 7-0 freshman center for the Buckeyes, are featured on the larger-than-life display. The banner is part of Ohio State’s effort to publicize its outstanding student-athletes and coaches around the city of Columbus.
THE NEWCOMERS
Thad Matta recruited one of the best classes nationally for the 2006-07 season. Four of the top freshmen in the country along with a talented junior college forward joined the Buckeyes for the 2006 fall quarter in Columbus.
The four Ohio State freshmen in 2006-07 all played for state championships during their senior high school seasons. Three won titles with the other finishing as runner-up.
Greg Oden (a 7-0 center) and 6-1 guard Mike Conley Jr., led Indiana’s Lawrence North High School to its third-consecutive state championship March 25, 2006, with a victory over Muncie Central (80-56). Oden led all scorers with 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field. He also was the game’s top rebounder with 11. Conley added 21 points and seven boards in the win.
Daequan Cook, a 6-5 guard, led Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar to its first state title in 19 years with a 73-46 victory over Triway in the Ohio Division II state championship game (3/25/06) at Value City Arena in Columbus. Cook scored 23 points in the victory.
David Lighty, a 6-5 guard/forward, led his Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland, Ohio) squad to the Ohio Division III state title game as well. Lighty scored 20 points in a loss to North College Hill.
FOUR FIRST TEAMERS
All four incoming freshmen were named to their state’s first team all-state squads as seniors. Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr., were honored in Class 4A, the large school division in Indiana, while Daequan Cook (Ohio Division II) and David Lighty (Ohio Division III) made their respective teams. Cook, the Division II Ohio Player of the Year, and Lighty both made the Associated Press all-state tournament teams as well in their respective divisions.
THREE MORE MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICANS
With the addition of Oden, Conley Jr., and Cook, Ohio State will have four former McDonald’s High School All-Americans on its squad in 2006-07.
Senior Ivan Harris played in the annual game (first played in 1977) in 2003. Ohio State has had a total of 10 current or former student-athletes compete in the McDonald’s game. Others were Clark Kellogg (1979), Perry Carter (1987), Treg Lee (1987), Jim Jackson (1989), Charles Macon (1992) and Greg Simpson (1992).
Ohio State has had multiple players play in the game twice previously with Carter and Lee in 1987 and Macon and Simpson in 1992. Ohio State and North Carolina had three players compete in the 2006 game.
ODEN CLAIMS SEVERAL NATIONAL AWARDS
Greg Oden is one of the most recognized and honored high school student-athletes of all-time. His list of accomplishments grew when he was recognized in April 2006 as the Gatorade Boy’s Basketball Player of the Year for the second-consecutive season, a rare feat accomplished just once before when LeBron James was so honored in 2001 and ’02.
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM INVITES ODEN TO WORKOUTS
The only high school player invited to work out with the U.S. Senior National team July 19-26, 2006 in Las Vegas, Greg Oden was scheduled to practice against members from the national team who were selected to represent the United States at the 2006 World Championships in Japan and ultimately the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team. Oden was unable to participate after right wrist surgery in June ended his summer schedule.
JUNIOR COLLEGE FORWARD COMPLETES 2006-07 CLASS
Othello Hunter, a 6-9 forward/center, was the final player to commit to the five-player incoming class of student-athletes in 2006-07. He averaged nine points and six rebounds a game for Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla., as a freshman. He improved those numbers to 16.8 points and 11.4 rebounds a game as a sophomore.
Hunter had 15 games in 2005-06 with 10 or more rebounds with a season-high 20 boards vs. St. Petersburg College (1/21/06). For his career, he managed 10 or more rebounds 19 times and 10 or more points 32 times.
Hunter recorded 18 career double-doubles at HCC, including 14 during his sophomore season.
Hillsborough finished 24-6 in 2005-06 and 19-14 in 2004-05. The team lost in the 2006 Florida Community College Activities Association State Tournament opening round to River Community College (75-68). Hunter scored 22 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked six shots in the loss.
THE SCHEDULE
Ohio State opened the 2006-07 season as the host school for the 2006 BCA Classic. The Buckeyes earned the title with a 3-0 record.
The Buckeyes have taken on three of the nation’s top teams on the road to date in 2006. Ohio State traveled to North Carolina as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Nov. 29 and faced Florida, the defending NCAA champions, in Gainesville Dec. 23 and faced then-No. 3 Wisconsin in Madison Jan. 9.
A neutral-site game vs. Cincinnati in Indianapolis at the Wooden Classic renewed a rivalry between the intrastate foes. Tennessee also began a home-and-home series with the Buckeyes with a clash in Columbus Jan. 13. The Big Ten season began with wins vs. Indiana at home and then at Illinois.
Ohio State will play Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota once this season with home-and-home matches vs. the remaining league schools. Indiana and Iowa travel to Columbus while Illinois and Minnesota play host to the Buckeyes this season.
