Buckeyes Face Boilermakers In Big Ten Tourney Semifinals – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 9, 2007
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OHIO STATE, PURDUE SERIES
The Buckeyes and Boilermakers met twice this season with Ohio State winning both games. The Buckeyes won 78-60 in West Lafayette Jan. 31 and then 63-56 in Columbus Feb. 10. The teams have never met on a neutral court in 151 previous meetings. Overall, Purdue leads the all-time series 78-71 with Ohio State winning the last seven games.
THREE BUCKEYES AVERAGE IN DOUBLE DIGITS IN PURDUE SERIES
Mike Conley Jr. averages 16 points on 11 of 19 shooting from the field in two games vs. the Boilermakers. Conley also has knocked down 8 of 10 foul shots in 68 minutes of game action. Classmate Greg Oden averaged 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds this year vs. Purdue. In five career games vs. the Boilermakers, junior Jamar Butler averages 10.6 points and has made 8 of 19 3-pointers.
BUCKEYES IMPROVE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT RECORD
Ohio State is 7-6 all-time in the annual postseason conference tournament after the victory over Michigan Friday. Ohio State has won its tournament opener in four of the last five years.
WIN STREAK EXTENDED
The Buckeyes have won 15-consecutive games and the last 14 games against Big Ten opponents. Ohio State swept the three games this season against the Wolverines and have won the last six in the series. The Buckeyes are 82-69 in the overall series and improved to 1-1 at a neutral site.
OHIO STATE SETS RECORD FOR SINGLE SEASON WINS
The win over Michigan (72-62) in the quarterfinal round of the 2007 Big Ten Tournament Friday established an Ohio State record for wins in a season with 28. Ohio State won 27 games in both 1961 and 1991.
CONLEY CLOSE TO SINGLE SEASON STEALS RECORD
Freshman Mike Conley Jr. was credited with three assists Friday against Michigan to move him into a tie for the No. 2 spot all-time at Ohio State in single season steals with 72. He is tied with Je’Kel Foster from the 2005-06 squad. Curtis Wilson owns the Ohio State recorded with 74 steals in 1986-87.
CONLEY MOVES TOWARD FIRST 200-ASSIST SEASON IN OSU HISTORY
With six assists in the quarterfinals Friday of the 2007 Big Ten Tournament, freshman Mike Conley Jr. improved his Ohio State single season record assist total to 197. He will become the first Ohio State player in history to crack the 200-assist mark with three more this season.
BUCKEYES IMPROVE RECORD AS NO. 1 TEAM NATIONALLY
Ohio State is 53-4 all-time when ranked No. 1 nationally one of the two weekly men’s college basketball polls. Ohio State is 51-3 as the No. 1 ranked team in the Associated Press Poll and 4-1 when ranked in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll. Ohio State has spent the last two weeks as No. 1 in both polls. The Buckeyes have two wins over Michigan in the span. Ohio State has spent 29 weeks as the No. 1 ranked team (AP) all-time. As a team ranked in the Top 25, Ohio State is 322-94 all time with a record of 47-9 in the last 56 games when ranked. As a Top 10 team, the Buckeyes are 223-54 and 33-5 in the last 38 games as a Top 10 squad.
NOTING THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State is 26-1 this season when leading at the half and 26-0 when leading with 5:00 minutes to play … when shooting 50 percent or better, Ohio State is 13-1 this season … the Buckeyes are 28-1 when shooting a better percentage than their opponents … with a 72-62 win Friday, Ohio State is 18-1 this year when reaching 70 points … opponents are 0-27 when held under 70 points by the Buckeyes this season … the five turnovers for the Buckeyes was a season low … Mike Conley Jr. has handed out six or more assists 18 times this season … senior Ron Lewis is 10 of 15 in the last two games, both wins vs. Michigan … Lewis enters the game vs. Purdue with 499 career rebounds and 1,592 career points … junior Jamar Butler has handed out 17 assists with just five turnovers in the last five games … three Buckeyes–Lewis, freshman Daequan Cook and Ivan Harris–have made 49 3-pointers on the season … Butler leads the team with 61 made 3s.
