Buckeyes End Regular Season at Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 2, 2007
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Date: March 3, 2007
Opponent: Michigan (20-10, 8-7)
Site: Crisler Arena (13,751)
Game Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Television: CBS
Local TV: WBNS Ch. 10
TV Talent: Dick Enberg (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)
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 49-3 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. The Buckeyes lost their last game at No. 1 to No. 2 Cincinnati (72-69), who owns two of the three wins vs. No. 1 Ohio State teams after also defeating the Buckeyes 70-65 in the 1961 NCAA title game (3/24/62). Ohio State has been rated No. 1 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll in three games, all this season, with a 2-1 record in those outings. Overall, Ohio State is 51-4 when playing in games as the No. 1-rated team nationally. ODEN EARNS SECOND LEAGUE HONOR
Greg Oden, a freshman center, 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 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 120 made 3-pointers over his 117-game career, Harris ranks No. 9 in history in 3-pointers made as a Buckeye. His .397 long range shooting percentage (120-302) rates No. 4 all-time. During his career, Harris has been a part of 86 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 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 1,560 career points in 121 games, 60 each with the Falcons and 61 with the Buckeyes. His ability to score in a variety of ways has helped the Buckeyes to 52 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 51-4 all-time with a 49-3 record as the AP No. 1 team and a 2-1 record as the coaches’ poll leader.
BIG TEN WIN STREAK LONGEST SINCE 1961 FOR BUCKEYES
The recent win over Wisconsin was the 12th-consecutive victory in Big Ten play for the Buckeyes. The league win streak is the longest since 1961. A win vs. Michigan would give the Buckeyes the second-longest league win streak in school history behind the 14-game win streak in 1961. Ohio State was 14-0 in conference play that season, winning the Big Ten title and advancing 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 | 12 | 14-1 (1st) | 26-3 | |
| 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 the 1960-62 conference seasons: 1960 (1), 1961 (14), 1962 (12).
LEAGUE WINS TOTAL MOST SINCE ’92
The 14 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 MOVES TO 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 47-39 all-time when playing in a game in which both teams are ranked. The Buckeyes are 221-54 (.804) when playing with an AP Top 10 ranking and 320-94 (.773) when playing with an AP Top 25 rating. Ohio State has been ranked among the AP’s Top 10 in each of the last 36 games dating back to March 1, 2006 (No. 9 at Northwestern). The Buckeyes are 31-5 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 54 games (45-9) 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 (7-0 in Big Ten) |
| as OSU head coach | 48-3 |
| Total in Columbus | 50-3* |
* Includes 1 win each at St. John and Nationwide arenas in Columbus.
BUTLER, CONLEY 1ST TANDEM WITH 100+ ASSISTS SINCE 1996-97
Jamar Butler has recorded 108 assists to date this season after dishing out three helpers in the win vs. No. 1 Wisconsin Sunday. Freshman Mike Conley Jr. is the team and Big Ten leader with 187 assists on the year. 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 14-1 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 are 14-1 vs. league competition to date with one regular-season conference game to play. Ohio State, 12-4 in 2005, 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
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 26 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 (21-10 to date in 2006-07). Matta has the Buckeyes off to a 26-3 record this season, which ties his career high for wins in a season. 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 NAMED TO WOODEN AWARD TOP 30 LIST
The John R. Wooden Award Committee announced the Wooden Award Midseason All-American list in late January. Composed of the Top 30 players who will compete for the player of the year award this season, the midseason list is based on individual player performance and team records during the first half of the season. The midseason list includes Ohio State freshman center Greg Oden, who leads the Buckeyes in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. He earned Big Ten player of the week honors Jan. 29 and again Feb. 26. Oden was one of 10 newcomers added to the list of preseason candidates for the award.
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). 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. 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 13-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 (187), 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 15 Big Ten games, Conley averages 6.7 assists, 2.1 steals and a +3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio (101/29). 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 187 assists are a freshman record as is his 68 steals on the year. Greg Oden is No. 4 among OSU freshmen in scoring average (15.3 ppg.), No. 2 in field goal percentage (.609/126-207), No. 2 in rebounding (9.5 rpg.) and No. 2 in blocked shots (78). Daequan Cook is No. 1 in 3-point shooting pct. (.449/48-107) and No. 1 in 3-pointers made (48).
CONLEY, ODEN AMONG TOP 5 NATIONALLY
Freshman Mike Conley Jr. averages 6.4 assists a game for the Buckeyes this season. He leads the Big Ten with 187 assists and is No. 5 nationally. Conley’s 68 steals leads all conference players. His steals average (2.3 spg.) is No. 24 nationally. Oden is No. 5 in blocks (78/3.5 bpg.), No. 15 in FG pct. (.609) and No. 22 in rebounds (9.5 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 3 in assist/turnover ratio among all Big Ten players. The pair has combined to hand out 295 assists while committing 108 turnovers (+2.7 a/t ratio). Conley’s 187 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 199-assist season with a minimum of two games remaining on the OSU schedule. Butler recorded 144 assists as a sophomore, good for the No. 9 spot all-time at OSU in single-season assists. With 326 to date, Butler needs one to take over sole possession of the No. 10 spot all time for career assists. Carter Scott (1978-81) and Butler are tied with 326.
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 515-246 (.677) in games when at least one Buckeye has a double-double. Oden is the latest to hit double digits in scoring (17) and rebounding (14) in a game. He did so vs. Penn State (2/21).
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 26 wins in 29 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 (74.6 ppg.), field goal shooting percentage (.477), 3-pointers made (7.86 pg.), rebounding (36.0 rpg.) and defensive rebounds (24.86). Ohio State is second in scoring margin (+13.9), blocked shots (5.90), assists (15.93), field goal pct. defense (.400) and assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.29 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 68 steals (2.34 spg.), has the best assist/turnover ratio (+3.07) and the highest assists per game average (6.45 apg.). Classmate Greg Oden is No. 1 in FG pct. (.609), rebounding (9.5 rpg.), blocked shots (3.55 bpg.), offensive rebounds (3.45 orpg.) and defensive rebounds (6.00 drpg.). Freshman Daequan Cook is No. 3 in 3-point shooting percentage (.449/48-107).
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 31 games, which includes 13 of 27 games this season. Ohio State is 28-3 under Matta when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, including a 12-1 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.
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 (24-3) 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 174-52 overall, which includes a record of 72-21 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 BUCKEYES
JAMAR BUTLER: The junior from Lima, Ohio, reached 600 career points (679) at Purdue (1/31) with 16 vs. the Boilermakers … he has averaged 7.4 points over 92 career games, which includes 71 starts … Butler is a career 83 percent foul shooter (135-163) and averages 3.5 assists a game for his career … he reached 300 career assists (326) at Purdue (1/31) after handing out three helpers … when Butler hands out four or more assists, Ohio State is 32-7 during his tenure … 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 108 assists and 31 steals … tied season high with a team-leading 18 points in win vs. Penn State (2/21).
Butler in the Big Ten:
| Assists | 8th T (3.72 apg.) |
| Asst./TO | 3rd (+2.30) |
| 3 FGs made | 8th (2.07) |
IVAN HARRIS: A senior from Springfield, Ohio, Harris has played in 117 career games for the Buckeyes … reached 600 career points (680) with nine vs. Tennessee (1/13) … in 29 games this season, his scoring average is up to 8.6 points a contest (5.8 career ppg.) … a career 40 percent shooter from 3-point range (120-302), 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 (.397) ranks No. 4 all-time at Ohio State … led the Buckeyes in scoring with 13 in his home finale vs. then-No. 1 Wisconsin in Ohio State’s 49-48 victory Feb. 25.
RON LEWIS: The Columbus, Ohio, native eclipsed the 1,500 career point mark (1,560) with 11 in the win at Michigan State (2/3) … with a career scoring average of 12.9 points a game in 121 appearances at Bowling Green (60 gms.) and Ohio State (61 gms.), his scoring average of 11.2 ppg. this season rates third among the Buckeyes … scored an Ohio State career high of 30 points at North Carolina Nov. 29 on 11 of 16 shooting from the field … blocked Wisconsin’s Kammron Taylor’s final shot attempt to secure a 49-48 victory over the No. 1 Badgers in the final home game of the season Feb. 25 for the Buckeyes.
MATT TERWILLIGER: The junior from Troy, Ohio, has scored 149 career points in 71 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 … played 18 quality minutes at Purdue in Ohio State’s 78-60 victory over the Boilermakers (1/31) … moved to the center spot to start the season and returned to his natural power forward spot when center Greg Oden returned from injury.
MIKE CONLEY JR.: The freshman point guard from Indianapolis knocked down the game winner on a runner in the lane with less than four seconds to play in Ohio State’s thrilling 49-48 victory over then-No. 1 Wisconsin Feb. 25 in Columbus … leads the Buckeyes with 187 assists and 68 steals this season, both freshman records at Ohio State … earned Big Ten Player of the Week (2/12) after home wins vs. Michigan (23 pts., 6 asts.) and Purdue (14 pts., 4 asts.) … 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), Iowa (1/20), Minnesota (2/18) and Penn State (2/21) … 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, Youngstown State and Minnesota is tied for the most in a game by an OSU rookie … starts in all 29 games … averages 30.5 minutes a game … connected on all six FGs vs. Eastern Kentucky … shooting percentage is .535 (108-202), fifth among Big Ten players … made all seven foul shots in win vs. Iowa State … scored career-high 23 points in win vs. Michigan (2/6).
Conley Jr. in the Big Ten:
| Assists | 1st (6.45 apg.) |
| Steals | 1st (2.34 spg.) |
| Asst./TO | 1st (+3.07) |
| FG Pct. | 5th (.535/108-202) |
DAEQUAN COOK: First career start vs. Minnesota (2/18) … 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 11.6 points per game and is tied for second with a 5.0 rebounds per game average … the Dayton, Ohio, native plays 21.5 minutes a game off the bench … has the ability to score both inside and from long range … connecting on 48 percent of his field goals (128-265) and 45 percent from 3-point range (48-107) … owns Ohio State freshman record for made 3-pointers in a season (48) and is the career leader in 3-point shooting percentage among OSU freshman (.449)
Cook in the Big Ten:
| 3 FG Pct. | 3rd (.449/48-107) |
GREG ODEN: Has two Big Ten Player of the Week awards to his credit (1/29 and 2/25) … the most recent after wins vs. Penn State (2/21) and No. 1 Wisconsin (2/25) in which he averaged 14 points and 9.5 rebounds … 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 … connected 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 (1/20) and Northwestern (1/24) he knocked down 18 of 20 shots (.900) while grabbing 27 rebounds … has blocked 78 shots in 22 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).
Oden in the Big Ten:
| FG Pct. | 1st (.609/126-207) |
| Rebounds | 1st (9.5 rpg.) |
| Blocks | 1st (3.55 bpg.) |
| Off. Rebs. | 1st (3.45 orpg.) |
| Def. Rebs. | 1st (6.0 drpg.) |
| Scoring | 6th (15.3 ppg.) |
OTHELLO HUNTER: Eight starts to date for the Winston-Salem, N.C., native … averages 6.6 points and is second on team with 5.0 rebounds a game … shooting 58 percent (74-127) from the field … also second on the roster with 34 blocks this season … has six double-digit games offensively.
Hunter in the Big Ten:
| Blocks | 9th (1.17 bpg.) |
| Off. Rebs. | 5th (2.55 orpg.) |
DAVID LIGHTY: Along with classmate Mike Conley Jr., David Lighty started his first 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 16.3 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) … his 17 minutes off the bench at Purdue (1/31) were instrumental in Ohio State’s 78-60 road victory.
CONLYE’S LATE GAME HEROICS LEADS TO WIN OVER NO. 1 BADGERS
Mike Conley Jr. drove the lane and made a runner with 4 seconds left to give No. 2 Ohio State a 49-48 victory over top-ranked Wisconsin, clinching the Buckeyes’ second-consecutive outright Big Ten title. The game marked the first time Big Ten teams have met in a 1 vs. 2 game. Alando Tucker had given the Badgers the lead with just under a minute left when he scored inside off Jason Chappell’s dump pass. Chappell then blocked a shot by Ron Lewis before Wisconsin’s Kammron Taylor was sent to the line in the bonus situation with 20.3 seconds left. Taylor’s first attempt spun off the rim. After a timeout, the Buckeyes passed around the perimeter before Conley cut through the lane and tossed up a soft shot that balanced on the rim before falling. The Badgers inbounded to Taylor who drove the length of the floor and tried an off-balance 15-footer at the buzzer. Lewis, a senior playing his final home game, swatted it away. Ivan Harris led the Buckeyes with 13 points, with Oden and Conley each scoring 11. The Buckeyes have won 12 consecutive conference games and 25 in a row at home, including all 18 this season. Ohio State captured back-to-back outright titles for the first time since running off three in a row between 1960-62.
NOTING THE WISCONSIN GAME
The Buckeyes finished the month of February 7-0 to give ThadMatta’s Buckeyes a record of 17-4 during his 3-year career at OhioState. Since taking over Ohio State’s program Matta is 14-2 inNovember, 18-2 in December, 16-9 in January and 7-4 in March. TheNo. 1 vs. No. 2 (AP) matchup in Columbus was the biggest game onthe OSU campus as far as a battle among top-ranked teams since No.2 Ohio State defeated No. 4 Indiana in double overtime 97-95 Feb.17, 1991. With the victory, Ohio State wins the 2007 Big TenRegular-Season Championship outright. It is the first set ofback-to-back outright regular-season championships since theBuckeyes won three in a row, 1960-62. This is the 14th time a BigTen team has won consecutive outright league championships. OhioState has secured the crown at home the last two years. The 1991and 1992 teams were the last Buckeyes squads to post back-to-backconference championships. The 1991 team tied for the league crownwhile the 1992 team won it outright. It is the 17th Big Ten titlein OSU program history and the 12th time the Buckeyes have won theleague championship outright. The last Big Ten team to winback-to-back titles was Illinois in 2004 and 2005. With OhioState’s victories in men’s and women’s basketball Sunday, theBuckeyes have won consecutive titles in football and bothbasketballs the last two years…all three titles were outrightthis year. The Buckeyes are 8-9 all-time when taking on thenation’s No. 1 team. As the No. 1 team, Ohio State is 51-4 all-time(2-1 as the coaches’ poll leader and 49-3 as No. 1 in the AP poll).This was the 37th meeting between the AP’s Top 2 teams in theweekly poll. With Ohio State’s victory, it was the 16th time theNo. 2 team has won the matchup. The Buckeyes completed the 2006-07home schedule with a perfect 18-0 record at Value City Arena. It isthe first time Ohio State has been undefeated at home since the1990-91 season (15-0), and the 12th time overall. The win extendedOhio State’s record for home wins in a season to 18 as well asextending the record for home wins in two-consecutive seasons to34. At 25 games, Ohio State has the fourth-longest home win streakin the nation. The overall win streak ranks third in the nation at13 games. Ohio State last won 13-or more consecutive games at thestart of the 1990-91 season … that team rattled off17-consecutive wins. Ohio State improves to 64-56 all-time inone-point games, with a 33-24 mark at home. The win was OhioState’s 26th this season, tying head coach Thad Matta’s careerhigh. The victory was the 50th win in Columbus in the three seasonsunder Matta (50-3), with a 48-3 mark at Value City Arena. The BigTen championship is the fifth conference title for Matta in hisseven years as a head coach. The Buckeyes moved their Big Ten winstreak to 12 games, tying for the second-longest season streak withthe 1959-60 and 1961-62 teams. The record is 14 games set in1960-61. The last time the Buckeyes were held to under 50 pointsand won was Jan. 7, 1982, when they defeated then-No. 6 Minnesota,49-47, at home. The last time Ohio State was held to under 50points overall was a 60-49 loss to Wisconsin March 11, 2005, in theBig Ten tournament. With four assists vs. Wisconsin, Mike ConleyJr. moved to within one assist of tying the OSU single seasonrecord. Conley has 187 assists and Curtis Wilson holds the recordof 188 set in 1988. Ohio State had a 25-22 lead at halftime. TheBuckeyes have led at the half 26 times this season with a 25-1record in those games. Ohio State went on a 16-7 run to end thefirst half, including holding the Badgers without a field goal fora span of 3:57. The drought was snapped when Jason Bohannon scoreda layup with :02 left on the clock. The Buckeyes held UW’s AlandoTucker, who averages 20.2 points per game, to just 12 points in 35minutes. Prior to the game, the men’s basketball program honoredits two seniors – Ivan Harris and Ron Lewis. With the wins by theOhio State men’s and women’s basketball teams Sunday, it is thefirst time in Big Ten history one school has earned three outrightconference titles in the sports of football and men’s and women’sbasketball in a single season. Ohio State earned conference titlesin all three sports in 2005-06, but shared the football title. Thevictory over Wisconsin was the third time in Matta’s career as ahead coach he has knocked off the No. 1 seed in the AP poll. Theother two wins were a 65-64 win vs. Illinois, March 6, 2005, and an87-67 upset of St. Joe’s in the Atlantic-10 tournamentquarterfinals with Xavier, March 11, 2004.
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 (26-3, 14-1) 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 will appear on national television at least 16 times this season with the possibility of additional exposures during the Big Ten tournament and in postseason play. 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). 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 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 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. 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.
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.
