Postgame Notes From No. 1 Ohio State vs. Wisconsin – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 12, 2007
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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 8 assists, his 19th game with 6 or more assists in a gamethis season, to up his season total to 209, both a freshman andoverall record for helpers in a season. Ohio State has won the lasttwo games in the Wisconsin series. The Buckeyes moved to the No. 1spot in both polls after their 49-48 victory Feb. 25 in Columbus.Overall, Ohio State is 79-61 vs. the Badgers, including a 2-1record on neutral courts. Ohio State and Wisconsin each were rankedamong the Top 5 teams nationally in all three meetings this season.Ohio State is 19-8 when ranked in games vs. the Badgers. When bothteams are rated among the Top 25, Ohio State is 4-1 in the series.The Buckeyes extended its overall win streak to 17 games, including16-consecutive victories vs. conference foes. Head coach Thad Mattahas now won league tournament titles in all three Division Iconference in which he has coached over his seven-year career as ahead coach. Matta owns five regular season conference titles in theMidwestern Collegiate (1), Atlantic 10 (2) and Big Ten (2)conferences. He has one MCC postseason title, two in the Atlantic10 and one Big Ten crown. He also has one MCC and Atlantic 10 coachof the year award and a pair as the Buckeye head coach. Matta haswon the regular season and or a postseason tournament title in sixof seven years as a head coach. In seven seasons as a head coachMatta has never failed to reach 20 victories … the Wisconsin wingame him his first 30-win season … he has taken all six eligibleteams to NCAA postseason competition. Freshmen Greg Oden and MikeConley Jr. each were selected to the 2007 All-Big Tournament team.Oden was the event’s most outstanding player. He averaged 17 pointsand 12.3 rebounds while shooting 62 percent from the field (21-34)and blocking 12 shots. Conley averaged 14 points while dishing out18 assists and recording six steals. Conley has 75 steals on theseason after recording a pair in the Wisconsin win. He now owns theOhio State single season record for both steals and assists (209).The league title gives the Buckeyes two tournament wins thisseason. Ohio State played host to the BCA Classic in earlyNovember, winning the three-day event with a championship win overKent State 81-59 Nov. 12. Junior Jamar Butler handed out fourassists … Ohio State is 35-7 when Butler dishes out four or moreassists in a game.
