Post Game Notes From No. 6/6 Ohio State vs. Illinois – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2007
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery
This is the 95th season of Big Ten membership in men’sbasketball for the Buckeyes. Ohio State is 34-57 (.374) in thefirst road game of the season in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes openedBig Ten play 2-0 for the first time since the 1993 season. The gameTuesday was the lone regular season meeting scheduled between OhioState and Illinois this year. The Buckeyes have won the last threegames against the Illini. The Buckeyes have been ranked in the Top10 of the Associated Press poll in each of the last 22 games andare 18-4 during that stretch. Ohio State has been a Top 25 squadfor the last 40 games with a 32-8 record in that time. The Buckeyesled 36-22 at half time. They have led at the half in 14 of 15 gamesthis season with a 13-1 mark in those contests. When leading at the5-minute mark of the second half, the Buckeyes are 13-0 this seasonand 53-4 in the Matta era. Mike Conley Jr. finished the game witheight of the Buckeyes’ 15 assists. He now has 100 assists on theseason, the most of any Big Ten player. He has 18 assists and twoturnovers in Big Ten play this year. Ohio State is now 208-53 whenplaying with an AP Top 10 ranking and 307-93 when playing with anAP Top 25 ranking. Ohio State is 16-9 against Illinois as a rankedteam. Ohio State has been in the Top 10 for the last 22 games(18-4) and among the Top 25 in the last 40 games (32-8). Ohio Statewon for the first time at Illinois since the 1992 Big Ten season, a74-72 Buckeyes’ victory Jan. 30. Ohio State has won the last threemeetings. Junior Othello Hunter took and made his first career3-pointer in the first half. The 44 points scored by Illinois arethe fewest in the series with Ohio State since a 41-35 Buckeye Jan.12, 1946. Freshman Mike Conley Jr. handed out eight assists withjust two turnovers in his first Big Ten road game. In two leaguegames to start his career, Conley has n18 assists and just twoturnovers. Ohio State’s defense held Illinois to 14 made fieldgoals and an overall shooting percentage of .241.
