Ohio State Opens NCAA Tournament Play vs. Central Connecticut State – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 12, 2007
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Date: March 15, 2007
Opp: Central Connecticut State
Site: Rupp Arena (23,000)
Game Time: 7:10 ET
Television: CBS
Local TV: WBNS 10 TV
TV Talent: Gus Johnson (P-by-P), Dan Bonner (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)
SETTING THE SCENE
Ohio State, the outright 2007 Big Ten regular season and tournament champions, enter NCAA tournament play with a 30-3 overall record after a 15-1 regular season mark in Big Ten Conference play. Thad Matta, the league’s coach-of-the-year, will lead the Buckeyes against First Round opponent Central Connecticut State (22-11). Ohio State is the No. 1 seed in the South Region. CCSU is the No. 16 seed. The winner of the game between the Buckeyes and Blue Devils will take on the winner of the game between Brigham Young, the No. 8 seed, and Xavier, the No. 9 seed. The Ohio State opener tips at 7:10 p.m. Thursday. BYU and Xavier tip 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Ohio State game. The winners meet at 1:10 p.m. Saturday with a chance to advance to regional competition in San Antonio, Texas, March 22 and 24. OHIO STATE VS. CCSU
Ohio State has a 1-0 record against Central Connecticut State University and a 6-0 record against current members of the Northeast Conference. The only meeting beween the Buckeyes and Blue Devils took place Nov. 26, 1995 in Columbus, a 79-52 Ohio State victory. The Buckeyes own single victories over Northeast Conference members LIU-Brooklyn and Mount St. Mary’s and have recorded three wins vs. Robert Morris.
THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Ohio State is making its 20th appearance in the NCAA tournament. Overall, Ohio State has a 32-18 record all-time in NCAA tournament play. The Buckeyes have advanced to play in eight Final Fours, have finished as the runner up three times (1939, 1961, 1962) and own one title (1960). Ohio State has finished third four times (1944, 1945, 1946, 1968).
OHIO STATE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
| Year | Region | Seed | Rcd |
| 1939 | Eastern | * | 2-1# |
| 1944 | Eastern | * | 1-1# |
| 1945 | Eastern | * | 1-1# |
| 1946 | Eastern | * | 2-1# |
| 1950 | Eastern | * | 1-1 |
| 1960 | Mideast | * | 4-0# |
| 1961 | Mideast | * | 3-1# |
| 1962 | Mideast | * | 3-1# |
| 1968 | Mideast | * | 3-1# |
| 1971 | Mideast | * | 1-1 |
| 1980 | West | No. 4 | 1-1 |
| 1982 | East | No. 8 | 0-1 |
| 1983 | East | No. 3 | 1-1 |
| 1985 | Midwest | No. 4 | 1-1 |
| 1987 | Southwest | No. 9 | 1-1 |
| 1990 | West | No. 8 | 1-1 |
| 1991 | Midwest | No. 1 | 2-1 |
| 1992 | Southwest | No. 1 | 3-1 |
| 2006 | Minneapolis | No. 2 | 1-1 |
| 2007 | South | No. 1 | |
| Totals | 32-18 (.640) |
* Teams were not seeded prior to 1979.
# Final Four Appearance
NCAA TOURNAMENT FACTS
Ohio State has appeared in 20 NCAA Tournaments since 1939. TheBuckeyes are 1-0 vs. Central Connecticut State in the all-timeseries and 6-0 vs. current members of the Northeast Conference.Ohio State last faced BYU in 1997, a 72-65 loss at the RainbowClassic in Hawaii. Ohio State is 4-3 all-time against the Cougarsand 15-10 vs. Mountain West teams. The Buckeyes are 2-1 all-timeagainst Xavier and 28-13 vs. Atlantic 10 conference foes. Theintrastate rivals have not played since March 15, 1985, a 60-57Xavier victory in the first round of the postseason NIT. Thad Mattaleft Xavier following the 2004 season to take over the Ohio Stateprogram in July of that year. Ohio State has been among the Top 4seeds seven times since the seeding process began in 1979. Six BigTen teams were selected to participate in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan State, Indiana and Purduewill compete. Ohio State was 9-1 vs. those teams in the regularseason and league tournament. The Buckeyes faced eight teams thisseason that qualified for the 2007 NCAA Tournament. In addition tothe Big Ten teams, Ohio State traveled to Florida and NorthCarolina, both No. 1 seeds this year, while also played host toTennessee in Columbus. Ohio State has played 52 of the 64 possibleopponents in the 65-team field this year with an all-time record of497-501 vs. those teams. By 2007 regional, the Buckeyes are 216-165vs. the Midwest, 169-231 vs. the West, 82-83 vs. the East and112-105 vs. the South.
BUCKEYES EARN FIRST LEAGUE TOURNAMENT TITLE
Thad Matta led the Buckeyes to a sweep of the 2007 Big Ten regular season and postseason tournament championships with the win (66-49) over No. 3 Wisconsin Sunday in Chicago. Ohio State (30-3) clinched the regular season title (15-1) vs. the Badgers as well Feb. 25 in Columbus with a 49-48 victory of the then-No. 1 ranked Badgers. The Buckeyes defeated Michigan (72-63, 3/9) and Purdue (63-52, 3/10) to reach the tournament finals.
ODEN, CONLEY EARN ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM ACCOLADES
Freshmen Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. were selected by the league media to the All-Big Ten Tournament squad Sunday. Oden was named the Most Outstanding Player of the event as well. In three games, Oden averaged 17.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.0 blocks while shooting 62 percent from the field (21-34) for the tournament. Conley played 33.3 minutes a game (100 minutes) in three days. He dished out 18 assists and recorded six steals while averaging 14.0 points a game.
NABC SELECTS ODEN TO ALL-AMERICA SQUAD
Greg Oden, a freshman center from Indianapolis, was selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Second Team All-America squad March 7. Fifteen student-athletes make up three NABC All-America teams from across the country. The teams were voted upon by the NABC membership. The honor adds to several Oden has earned to date. He was selected by the Big Ten coaches and media to the 2007 First Team All-Big Ten squadl, made the league’s all-freshman team, was the conference freshman of the year and was the league’s defensive player of the year. The United States Basketball Writers Association also picked Oden and high school teammate Mike Conley Jr. to the All-District V team last week. Oden becomes the first All-America selection at Ohio State since point guard Scoonie Penn was an NABC second team All-America in 2000.
MATTA REPEATS AS BIG TEN COACH OF THE YEAR
Ohio State returned just one starter and four letterwinners from its 2006 Big Ten title team but has put together a record-breaking campaign in 2007 with a school-record 30 victories, including a 15-1 record in league play. After consecutive outright league titles, the Big Ten coaches and media selected Thad Matta as the league’s coach of the year in 2006-07, his second in as many seasons. Matta now has four coach-of-the-year honors to his credit in three NCAA Division I conferences. He also has five league titles in his seven years as a head coach. Ohio State coaches have won the award seven times. Matta joins Randy Ayers as back-to-back honorees. Ayers did so in 1990 and 1991. Matta’s three-year record of 76-21 (.784) gives him the most wins of the 13 head coaches in program history over the first three years of their tenures. His three-year winning percentage is second only to legendary mentor Fred Taylor’s .808 win percentage over his first three seasons (63-15 from 1959-62).
BUCKEYES WELL REPRESENTED ON COACHES, MEDIA ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
Big Ten coaches and media voted several Buckeyes to the all-league teams in 2006-07. The coaches chose freshman Greg Oden as the conference Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. He landed a spot on the First Team All-Big Ten and All-Defensive teams. Classmate Daequan Cook was voted the Sixth Man of the Year. Another OSU rookie, Mike Conley Jr., joined Oden on the All-Freshman Team as well as earning a spot on the Second Team All-Big Ten squad. Junior Jamar Butler and senior Ron Lewis were honorable mention All-Big Ten selections as well. The league media picked Oden and Conley on the first team with Butler, Cook and Lewis earning spots on the honorable mention squad. Oden was the media’s selection for Freshman of the Year. He also was the Ohio State’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
OHIO STATE REPEATS ALL-BIG TEN HONORS AT CENTER
A season ago senior center Terence Dials earned the 2006 Big Ten’s Player of the Year award and earned First Team All-Big Ten accolades. With Greg Oden earning first team honors this season, Ohio State has repeat first teamers in the middle for the first time since 1970 (Dave Sorenson) and 1971 (Luke Witte). Jerry Lucas was a first team center in each of his three seasons from 1960-62. Oden is Ohio State’s fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Year joining Jim Jackson (1990), Greg Simpson (1993) and Michael Redd (1998). He is the Buckeyes’ second Defensive Player of the Year and third award winner. Ken Johnson won the honor in 2000 and 2001. Oden’s high school teammate at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Mike Conley Jr., is the first Ohio State point guard to earn first team honors since Scoonie Penn was a back-to-back selection in 1999 and 2000.
BUCKEYES BACK NO. 1 SEED IN 2007 LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
Thad Matta’s Buckeyes earned the No. 1 seed in the annual Big Ten tournament for the second-consecutive season after securing the outright league title with the 49-48 victory Feb. 25 in Columbus vs. then-No. 1 Wisconsin. The Buckeyes closed out the regular season with a 65-61 win at Michigan March 3 and won all three conference tournament games to claim the first postseason championship in history.
OSU BIG TEN TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Buckeyes are 9-6 all-time in Big Ten Tournament play since the event began in 1998. The Buckeyes were the No. 1 seed in 2007.
| Year (seed) | W/L | Opp. (seed) | Score |
| 1998 (11) | L | Indiana (6) | 71-78 |
| 2000 (1) | L | Penn State (9) | 66-71 |
| 2003 (8) | W | Iowa (9) | 66-64 |
| W | Wisconsin (1) | 58-50 | |
| W | Mich. St. (5) | 55-54 | |
| L | Illinois (2) | 59-72 | |
| 2004 (9) | L | Indiana (8) | 69-83 |
| 2005 (6) | W | Penn State (11) | 72-69 |
| L | Wisconsin (3) | 49-60 | |
| 2006 (1) | W | Penn State (8) | 63-56 |
| W | Indiana (5) | 52-51 | |
| L | Iowa (2) | 60-67 | |
| 2007 (1) | W | Michigan (8) | 72-62 |
| W | Purdue (5) | 63-52 | |
| W | Wisconsin(2) | 66-49 |
MATTA GRABS 1ST BIG TEN POSTSEASON CROWN
Head coach Thad Matta guided the Buckeyes to the outright 2006 and 2007 Big Ten Conference regular-season titles, clinching the latter with a 49-48 home victory over then-No. 1 Wisconsin Feb. 25 at Value City Arena. The 2007 championship gives Matta five total regular-season league titles in three Division I conferences. 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 in 2006 and again in 2007, his fourth honor in his seven years as a collegiate head coach. Matta has won either a regular season or postseason tournament title in six of seven years as a head coach. The 2007 Big Ten Tournament title is his first as a Buckeye.
Thad Matta Coaching Resumé
| Year | School | League Title |
P’season Title |
Coach of Yr. |
Conf. |
| 2001 | Butler | X | X | X | MCC |
| 2002 | Xavier | X | X | X | A-10 |
| 2003 | Xavier | X | — | — | A-10 |
| 2004 | Xavier | — | X | — | A-10 |
| 2005 | Ohio St. | — | — | — | Big Ten |
| 2006 | Ohio St. | X | — | X | Big Ten |
| 2007 | Ohio St. | X | X | X | Big Ten |
BUCKEYES ENTER NCAA TOURNAMENT PLAY ON 17-GAME WIN STREAK
Ohio State surged down the stretch in Big Ten Conference play, winning 13-consecutive regular season-league games, three conference tournament contests and 17 in a row overall. Ohio State tied the 17-game win streak the 1990-91 team enjoyed to start its season. The 1961-62 team opened the season with 22-consecutive victories.
BUCKEYES LOCK DOWN 17th TITLE
Ohio State secured the outright 2007 regular-season Big Ten title with the win vs. Wisconsin in the home finale Feb. 25. The Buckeyes have won 17 league championships in school history. The 2007 championship is the second in as many years under head coach Thad Matta. Ohio State has won 12 outright league titles and five shared championships.
ODEN AMONG WOODEN AWARD FINALISTS
Freshman center Greg Oden will be on the ballot of 22 student-athletes in the running for the 2007 Wooden Award. Only once before has a freshman been included on the final ballot. Oden and Kevin Durant of Texas are the only two first-year collegiate players in the running this year. The winner will be announced April 9 in Los Angeles.
ODEN, CONLEY JR. PICKED FOR POSTSEASON HONORS
Freshmen Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. have been selected by the National Association of Basketball Coaches to the All-District 10 team with Oden picked for the first team and Conley for the second team. Oden leads the Buckeyes in scoring and rebounding while Conley is tops in assists in steals. Both players lead the Big Ten Conference in several statistical categories. Oden also is a finalist for the United States Basketball Writers’ Association’s Oscar Robertson Trophy, given to the nation’s player of the year. Oden, along with fellow freshman Kevin Durant of Texas, sophomore Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina, junior Joakim Noah of Florida and Wisconsin senior Alando Tucker, make up the finalists for that award.
BUCKEYES REACH NO. 1 IN BOTH POLLS FOLLOWING WISCONSIN WIN
Voters in the Associated Press men’s college basketball poll picked Ohio State for the No. 1 spot in its weekly poll for the first time since 1962 Feb. 25. Ohio State last played a game as the AP No. 1 team March 24, 1962 in the NCAA title game that year. Ohio State is 53-3 all-time when ranked No. 1 in the AP poll after first reaching the top spot before a Dec. 17, 1960 win (93-82) at Wichita State. Ohio State has been rated No. 1 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll in seven games, all this season, with a 6-1 record in those outings. Overall, Ohio State is 55-4 when playing in games as the No. 1-rated team nationally.
ODEN EARNS SECOND LEAGUE HONOR
Greg Oden shared Big Ten Player of the Week honors with Drew Neitzel of Michigan State after helping the Buckeyes to a pair of home wins as Ohio State clinched the outright Big Ten title for the second-consecutive year Feb. 25 at home vs. then-No. 1 Wisconsin (49-48). Oden registered 11 points while adding five rebounds vs. the Badgers. He began the week by tallying his ninth double-double of the season (11 total) with 17 points and 14 rebounds against Penn State. For the week, he averaged 14 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, while blocking seven shots.
SENIORS RECOGNIZED FOR CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
The Ohio State men’s basketball program recognized four seniors prior to the start of the game vs. the Badgers, the final home contest of the season, Feb. 25. Ivan Harris, a four-year letterwinner from Springfield, Ohio, Ron Lewis, a Columbus native with a three-year tenure on the Buckeyes’ roster and managers Ty Shepfer and Alan Stuker all made their final appearance at Value City Arena on the Ohio State bench.
HARRIS PART OF RECORDS BOOK
Ivan Harris will leave Ohio State as one of its all-time best 3-point shooters. With 122 made 3-pointers over his 121-game career, Harris ranks No. 10 in history in 3-pointers made as a Buckeye. His .396 long-range shooting percentage (122-308) rates No. 4 all-time. During his career, Harris has been a part of 90 Ohio State victories, which includes 57 wins at Value City Arena.
LEWIS FINISHES AT OHIO STATE
Ron Lewis started elsewhere but finished at home. The Columbus Brookhaven alum started his career at Bowling Green State University but has spent the last three years at Ohio State where he has been a mainstay in the lineup the last two years after sitting out the 2004-05 season. Lewis has scored 1,622 career points in 125 games, 60 with the Falcons and 65 with the Buckeyes. His ability to score in a variety of ways has helped the Buckeyes to 56 victories the last two years to go along with the 2006 and 2007 outright Big Ten titles and a home record of 34-1 at Value City Arena.
OHIO STATE VS. NO. 1 AND AS NO. 1
Ohio State is no stranger when it comes to facing the top-rated team in the country. The Buckeyes are 8-9 all-time when taking on the nation’s best, which includes wins in six of the last seven opportunities vs. No. 1. The last time an Ohio State team took on the No. 1 team in the land was in the home finale this year against Wisconsin. The then No. 2-rated Buckeyes (AP) prevailed 49-48. Ohio State is 55-4 all-time with a 53-3 record as the AP No. 1 team and has a 6-1 record as the coaches’ poll leader.
BIG TEN WIN STREAK LONGEST SINCE 1961 FOR BUCKEYES
The recent win over Michigan (March 3) in the season finale was the 14th-consecutive victory in Big Ten play for the Buckeyes. The league win streak is the longest since 1961. The win vs. Michigan gives the Buckeyes the second-longest league win streak in school history behind the 27-game win streak over the 1960-62 seasons. Ohio State was 14-0 in conference play in 1961 to make the longest single season league win streak. That team won the Big Ten title and advanced to the NCAA title game. The Buckeyes have won at least 10-consecutive regular-season league games six times in history.
| Yr. | Strk. | Big Ten Rcd. | Overall | NCAA |
| 1950 | 10 | 12-1 (1st) | 22-4 | Regs. |
| 1960 | 12 | 13-1 (1st) | 25-3 | Champs |
| 1961 | 14 | 14-0 (1st) | 27-1 | Title gm. |
| 2007 | 13 | 15-1 (1st) | 30-3 | NCAA |
| 1962 | 12 | 13-1 (1st) | 26-2 | Title gm. |
| 1971 | 10 | 13-1 (1st) | 20-6 | Regs. |
Note: OSU record for consecutive Big Ten wins is 27 over the1960-62 conference seasons: 1960 (1), 1961 (14), 1962 (12).
LEAGUE WINS TOTAL MOST SINCE ’92
The 15 Big Ten Conference wins this season is the most since the 1991 and 1992 Ohio State teams won 15 in an 18-game league schedule. The Big Ten schedule has been 16 games since 1998. The 1991 and 1992 teams were the last Buckeye squads to post back-to-back conference championships. The 1991 team tied for the league crown and the 1992 squad won it outright.
OHIO STATE REMAINS NO. 1 IN BOTH POLLS, 1ST IN AP SINCE 1962
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 currently are ranked No. 1 in both the coaches’ poll and in the AP Top 25. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 earlier this season in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll when playing at North Carolina Nov. 29 and then again Feb. 19. The current No. 1 ranking in the AP poll is the highest since Ohio State was No. 1 at the end of the 1962 season. The Buckeyes were No. 1 for 53-consecutive games, the last being a loss to No. 2 Cincinnati in the 1962 title game March 24 (71-59).
BUCKEYES IN THE TOP 25
Ohio State is 48-39 all-time when playing in a game in which both teams are ranked. The Buckeyes are 225-54 (.806) when playing with an AP Top 10 ranking and 324-94 (.775) when playing with an AP Top 25 rating. Ohio State has been ranked among the AP’s Top 10 in each of the last 40 games dating back to March 1, 2006 (No. 9 at Northwestern). The Buckeyes are 35-5 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 58 games (49-9) since Dec. 23, 2005 as the No. 24 team in a win vs. Tennessee St. (75-65).
BUCKEYES TOUGH TO BEAT AT HOME UNDER MATTA
Thad Matta has directed the Buckeyes to a 50-3 record in Columbus in three seasons as head coach of the Buckeyes. He is 48-3 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 34-1 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 18 victories Feb. 25 against then No. 1 Wisconsin.
Matta at Value City Arena…
| Current win streak | 25 |
| vs. the Big Ten | 21-3 |
| 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 | 18-0 (8-0 in Big Ten) |
| as OSU head coach | 48-3 |
| Total in Columbus | 50-3* |
* Includes 1 win each at St. John and Nationwide arenas inColumbus.
BUTLER, CONLEY 1ST TANDEM WITH 100+ ASSISTS SINCE 1996-97
Jamar Butler has recorded 124 assists to date this season after dishing out four helpers in the win vs. Wisconsin Sunday in the Big Ten Tournament finale. Freshman Mike Conley Jr. is the team and Big Ten leader with 209 assists on the year (eight vs. Wisconsin Sunday). The last time Ohio State had two players with 100+ assists in a season was the 1996-97 season when Damon Stringer (120) and Shaun Stonerook (101) accomplished the feat.
CONLEY EARNS BIG TEN HONOR
Mike Conley Jr., the Big Ten’s leader in assists, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio, earned co-Big Ten player of the week honors (Feb. 12) after he led Ohio State to a pair of home wins (Feb. 6, 10) to remain unbeaten at home (18-0) and at the top in Big Ten Conference play with a 15-1 record. Conley, a freshman point guard from Indianapolis, averaged 18.5 points and five assists while connecting on 61 percent of his shots from the field, 75 percent of his 3-point attempts and 86 percent of his foul shots. He scored a career-high 23 points in the win over Michigan (Feb. 6) while making 9-of-12 shots from the field and handing out six assists with just one turnover. He shared the award with Wisconsin senior forward Alando Tucker.
BUCKEYES REACH 10 WINS IN LEAGUE PLAY FOR 25TH TIME
Ohio State has won 10 or more games in Big Ten Conference play 25 times in history. The Buckeyes finished 15-1 vs. league competition in 2007. Ohio State, 12-4 in 2006, has posted back-to-back double-digit wins in conference play for the first time since 1990-92 when Ohio State reached at least 10 conference wins over three-consecutive seasons. The win total this season is the most in a 16-game league schedule and the most since a 14-0 record in a 14-game Big Ten schedule in 1961.
MATTA REACHES 7TH 20-WIN SEASON AS HEAD COACH, SETS CAREER HIGH
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, 26 a season ago and 30 this year at Ohio State, Matta is one of two coaches nationally to record 20 or more wins in the first seven seasons of his coaching career. Mark Few of Gonzaga is the other with 20+ in all eight years with the Bulldogs. Matta has the Buckeyes off to a 30-3 record after three wins to claim the 2007 Big Ten Tournament title Sunday in Chicago. Overall, Ohio State has enjoyed 18 20-win seasons. The first was a 22-4 campaign in 1950 under the direction of head coach William H.H. Dye. Legendary Ohio State coach Fred Taylor recorded six 20-win campaigns. Eldon Miller directed four while Gary Williams and Randy Ayers each coached two teams to 20 or more wins in a season. Matta became the only Ohio State coach to guide his first three Buckeye teams to 20 or more victories. Bruce Weber (Illinois) is the only other current Big Ten head coach to reach 20+ wins in the first three seasons in the conference. Weber was 26-7 in 2003-04, 37-2 in 2004-05 and 26-7 in 2005-06.
ODEN CLAIMS FIRST OF TWO BIG TEN WEEKLY HONORS
Greg Oden, a freshman center, averaged a double-double in a pair of wins for the then-fifth-ranked Buckeyes to earn the Big Ten’s Player of the Week honor, which he shared with Wisconsin’s Alando Tucker Jan. 29. 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).
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. Oden earned the honor again Feb. 25, sharing it with Michigan State’s Drew Neitzel.
CONLEY’S NUMBERS MOUNT DURING BIG TEN SEASON
Ohio State freshman Mike Conley Jr. has orchestrated 17-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 (209), 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 16 regular-season Big Ten games, Conley averaged 6.6 assists, 2.1 steals and a +3.4 assist-to-turnover ratio (105/31). Five of his six 10-assist games this season have come against Big Ten foes (Indiana, Northwestern, Iowa, Minnesota and Penn State).
OSU FRESHMEN SETTING RECORDS
Ohio State freshmen are setting rookie records this season. Point guard Mike Conley Jr. has six games this season in which he has handed out 10 assists, which establishes an OSU record for double-digit assist games in a season. 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 three times this year. He also has six of the Top 7 games for a rookie with four or more steals. His 209 assists and 75 steals are both overall and freshman single-season records. Greg Oden is No. 4 among OSU freshmen in scoring average (15.5 ppg.), No. 2 in field goal percentage (.614/153-249), No. 2 in rebounding (9.7 rpg.) and No. 1 in blocked shots (92). Daequan Cook is No. 1 in 3-point shooting pct. (.4435/50-115) and No. 1 in 3-pointers made (50).
CONLEY, ODEN AMONG TOP 10 NATIONALLY
Freshman Mike Conley Jr. averages 6.3 assists a game for the Buckeyes this season. He leads the Big Ten with 209 assists and is No. 5 nationally. Conley’s 75 steals leads all conference players. His steals average (2.3 spg.) is No. 23 nationally. Oden is No. 6 in blocks (92/3.5 bpg.), No. 14 in FG pct. (.614) and No. 26 in rebounds (9.7 rpg.).
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 2 in assist/turnover ratio among all Big Ten players. The pair has combined to hand out 333 assists while committing 123 turnovers (+2.7 a/t ratio). Conley’s 209 assists this season set Ohio State’s single season record for assists. He passed Curtis Wilson’s 188 as a senior in 1988 for the record with four at Michigan March 3. Butler recorded 144 assists as a sophomore, good for the No. 9 spot all-time at OSU in single-season assists. With 342 to date, Butler took control of the No. 9 spot for career assists with six at Michigan March 3. Jim Jackson (1990-92) is up next at the No. 8 spot with 372.
FIVE BUCKEYES RECORD DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Five Ohio State players have recorded a double-double this season to date after freshman Mike Conley Jr. scored a then-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 517-246 (.678) in games when at least one Buckeye has a double-double. Oden is the latest to hit double digits in scoring (12) and rebounding (10) in a game. He did so vs. Wisconsin (3/11).
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 great’s 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 30 wins in 33 outings, an outright Big Ten regular-season title and the 2007 Big Ten Tournament Championship. The effort also has the team leading the 11 Big Ten schools in several statistical areas. Ohio State leads league institutions in scoring (73.6 ppg.), field goal shooting percentage (.472), rebounding (35.7 rpg.), scoring margin (+13.5), blocked shots (5.94) and defensive rebounds (24.52). Ohio State is second in 3-pointers made (7.45 pg.), assists (15.58), field goal pct. defense (.397) and assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.32 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 75 steals (2.3 spg.), has the best assist/turnover ratio (+2.94) and the highest assists per game average (6.33 apg.). Classmate Greg Oden is No. 1 in FG pct. (.614), rebounding (9.7 rpg.), blocked shots (3.54 bpg.), offensive rebounds (3.65 orpg.) and defensive rebounds (6.0 drpg.). Freshman Daequan Cook is No. 4 in 3-point shooting percentage (.435/50-115).
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 65 times with a record of 29-36 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 32 games, which includes 14 of 31 games this season. Ohio State is 29-3 under Matta when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, including a 14-1 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 never have 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. Ohio State could add a fifth Ohio team to the schedule this year if both Xavier and the Buckeyes advance to second round competition in the 2007 NCAA Tournament in Lexington.
BUCKEYES REACH NO. 1 IN FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL FOR 2ND TIME
Four schools, Ohio State, UCLA, Florida 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 (30-3) 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 2006 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, the next Saturday (Dec. 9, 1967) to drop from the 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. Florida is the most recent team to accomplish the feat. The Gators did so this season after winning the 2006 National Title in football and reaching No. 1 in both basketball polls.
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 178-52 overall, which includes a record of 76-21 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 |
NOTING THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TITLE GAME VS. WISCONSIN
Ohio State won for the 30th time on the year, increasing theschool record for wins in a season. The 1961 and 1991 teams eachhad 27 wins to hold the previous record. Freshman Mike Conley Jr.recorded eight assists, his 19th game with six or more assists in agame this season, to up his season total to 209, both a freshmanand overall record for helpers in a season. Ohio State has won thelast two games in the Wisconsin series. The Buckeyes moved to theNo. 1 spot in both polls after their 49-48 victory Feb. 25 inColumbus. Overall, Ohio State is 79-61 vs. the Badgers, including a2-1 record on neutral courts. Ohio State and Wisconsin each wereranked among the Top 5 teams nationally in all three meetings thisseason. Ohio State is 19-8 when ranked in games vs. the Badgers.When both teams are rated among the Top 25, Ohio State is 4-1 inthe series. The Buckeyes extended their overall win streak to 17games, including 16-consecutive victories vs. conference foes. Headcoach Thad Matta has now won league tournament titles in all threeDivision I conference in which he has coached over his seven-yearcareer as a head coach. Matta owns five regular season conferencetitles in the Midwestern Collegiate (1), Atlantic 10 (2) and BigTen (2) conferences combined. He has one MCC postseason title, twoin the Atlantic 10 and one Big Ten crown. He also has one MCC andAtlantic 10 coach of the year award and a pair as the Buckeye headcoach. Matta has won the regular season and/or a postseasontournament title in six of seven years as a head coach. In sevenseasons as a head coach Matta has never failed to reach 20victories … the Wisconsin win game him his first 30-win season… he has taken all six eligible teams to NCAA postseasoncompetition. Freshmen Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. each wereselected to the 2007 All-Big Tournament team. Oden was the event’smost outstanding player. He averaged 17 points and 12.3 reboundswhile shooting 62 percent from the field (21-34) and blocking 12shots. Conley averaged 14 points while dishing out 18 assists andrecording six steals. Conley has 75 steals on the season afterrecording a pair in the Wisconsin win. He now owns the Ohio Statesingle season record for both steals and assists (209). The leaguetitle gives the Buckeyes two tournament wins this season. OhioState played host to the BCA Classic in early November, winning thethree-day event with a championship win over Kent State 81-59 Nov.12. Junior Jamar Butler handed out four assists … Ohio State is35-7 when Butler dishes out four or more assists in a game.
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.
MEDIA CORRECT WITH PRESEASON PREDICTION, BUCKEYES WIN LEAGUE
Big Ten Conference media selected Ohio State as its preseason favorite to win the league regular-season crown in 2006-07. The Buckeyes secured back-to-back conference titles for the first time since 1991 and 1992 with the win against No. 1 Wisconsin Feb. 25 in Columbus. Ohio State (30-3, 15-1) returned 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.
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 appeared on national television 18 times this season. 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 included the matchup at No. 1 Florida Dec. 23, a home game vs. Tennessee Jan. 13, at Michigan State Feb. 3, at Minnesota Feb. 18 vs. Wisconsin in Columbus Feb. 25 and in the season finale at Michigan March 3. 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). ESPN had the Big Ten Tournament opener for the Buckeyes vs. Michigan while CBS carried the semifinals and finals. Ohio State is 8-1 on CBS this year. Four other league games were featured on ESPN or ESPN2 during regular-season play.
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 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 Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook, Ohio State has 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 COMPLETED 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. Two of those join Ohio State as No. 1 seeds in the 2007 NCAA Tournament (Florida, North Carolina). 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. The Buckeyes also 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.
Ohio State played Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota once this season with home-and-home matches vs. the remaining league schools. Indiana and Iowa traveled to Columbus while Illinois and Minnesota played host to the Buckeyes this season.
