Buckeyes Make Return to St. John Arena Sunday – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 12, 2010
No. 2 Ohio State (7-0) vs. Western Carolina (4-7)
Site: St. John Arena (13,276)
Game Time: 2 p.m. ET
Television: BigTenNetwork.com
Talent: Marty Bannister (play-by-play)
Matt Sylvester (expert analysis)
Radio: OSU Radio Network (60 stations)
Local Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent: Paul Keels (play-by-play)
Ron Stokes (expert analysis)
Sullinger Turns in Record Outing
Freshman Jared Sullinger scored a game-high 40 points for the Buckeyes in the 75-64 win vs. IUPUI Dec. 9. Along the way, the 6-foot-9-inch Columbus native set numerous Ohio State records.
Noting Sullinger’s 40-point game vs. IUPUI
- Most Points by an Ohio State freshman-40
- Most FTs Made by an Ohio State freshman-16
- 3rd-T Free Throws Made at Ohio State
- Most FTA by an Ohio State freshman-23
- 10th-T FTs attempted in Big Ten history
- Third Most FTs attempted in Big Ten history
- 2nd 40-pt. by a Big Ten freshman all-time
- No. 17-T Single Game Scoring Record at Ohio State
- 57th time OSU player has scored 35 or more points in a game-all-time
- Last time OSU player scored 35 or more pts. in a game was by Brent Darby (35) vs. Duke in 2002.
- Last time OSU player scored 40 or more pts. in a game was by Dennis Hopson (41) at Dayton in 1986.
- Last time a Big Ten player scored 40 or more pts. in a game was by Shawn Respert of Michigan State vs. Indiana, 1/11/95.
Ohio State, Western Carolina Series
Western Carolina is 4-6 overall with wins at DePaul, vs. Warren Wilson, at William & Mary and vs. Bradley. Losses were at Clemson, at UTEP, vs. Mercer and Gardner-Webb, at Samford and at Chattanooga. Senior guard Mike Williams, a native of Baton Rouge, La., is the team’s lone player scoring in double figures (15.3 ppg.). He also leads the team with 37 assists, 22 steals, field goals made (58) and fouls shots made (31) and attempted (41). Ohio State and Western Carolina have never met previously in men’s basketball. The Buckeyes are 9-4 overall vs. teams representing the Southern Conference.
Ohio State vs. the Southern Conference
Appalachian State
Chattanooga 4-1
Citadel
College of Charleston
Davidson 2-3
Elon University
Furman 1-0
Georgia Southern
UNC Greensboro
Samford 2-0
Western Carolina
Wofford
Total 9-4
Matta has Buckeyes Road Ready
Ohio State has won its last seven true road games since finishing the 2009-10 season with five-consecutive road victories and starting this season with wins at then-No. 9 Florida (11/16/10) and most recently at Florida State (11/30/10). The last road loss was at No. 11 West Virginia Jan. 23, 2010. The Buckeyes have won their last six Big Ten road contests since falling at Minnesota 73-62 Jan. 9, 2010. The Buckeyes last won seven-consecutive road games in Big Ten play during the 2006-07, 2007-08 seasons when the Buckeyes won the final six league road games in 2007 and the first in 2008. Ohio State opens the Big Ten season on the road at Indiana this year Dec. 31 and then plays at Iowa Jan. 4 and at Michigan Jan. 12.
Year(s) Rd. W Strk. Big Ten Rd. W Strk.
1959-60, 1961-62 21 14
1970-71, 1971-72 9 7
1932-33 8 3
2009-10, 2010-11 7 6
1949-50, 1950-51 7 5
2006-07, 2007-08 6 7
1908-09, 1909-10 6 N/A
1943-44, 1944-45 N/A 7
Western Carolina Connections
Thad Matta spent the 1995-96 season as an assistant coach on the Western Carolina staff between stints as an assistant at Miami (Ohio). Western Carolina won the Southern Conference Tournament in 1996 and advanced to face Purdue in the opening round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers were a No. 1 seed that year while WCU entered the event as the No. 16 seed. Purdue escaped the matchup with a 73-71 victory in one of the closest games between a No. 1 and No. 16 seed in NCAA tournament history.
Ohio State at St. John Arena
St. John Arena played host to its final full season as the home of Ohio State basketball in 1997-98 after 42 years. Ohio State’s record in St. John Arena is a glistening 430-151 – a winning percentage of .740. Between 1960 and 1964, the Buckeyes won 50-consecutive games on their home floor.
Ohio State played again in St. John during the 2004-05 season, marking the first men’s game played in the historic venue since the home finale in 1998. Ohio State played two games at St. John during the 2007-08 season, a 90-57 victory over VMI Nov. 25, 2007 and a 73-56 win vs. California in the 2008 National Invitation Tournament March 24, 2008. A game vs. Delaware State (W, 70-42) was played Nov. 20, 2008 as well.
Since the first game was played in December of 1956 (vs. Butler), more than 6.6 million fans witnessed games in St. John Arena. The actual per game average over the years is 11,463 in 581 games.
Now that the Ohio State men’s and women’s basketball teams have moved to Value City Arena, St. John Arena serves as the home of Ohio State’s men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s gymnastics, fencing and wrestling teams.
In 2004 St. John Arena once again hosted basketball contests as the first and second rounds of the NCAA women’s tournament were played in the venerable arena. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams still compete and practice at SJA on occasion.
Sullinger Continues Buckeye FOW Sweep
Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas have divided all four of the Big Ten conference’s Freshman of the Week honors this season. Sullinger added his third of the season this week in recognition of his performance in the win at Florida State. The 6-9 forward recorded his third career double-double in just six games with 11 points and 13 rebounds at FSU in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Nov. 30. He also added one block and a steal in the 58-44 win. Sullinger leads the Buckeyes with 34 field goals, 19 free throws and 56 rebounds. The honor is the third of the season for Sullinger and the fourth overall for the Buckeyes. Thomas received FOW honors Nov. 29.
Lighty Records Win No. 100
Senior David Lighty has been a part of 102 victories during his tenure as a Buckeye. His freshman season Ohio State won 35 games followed by 24 as a sophomore and 29 as a junior in 2009-10. Lighty is credited with seven wins at the start of the 2008-09 season, which ended for the 6-foot-5 guard from Cleveland when he broke his right foot and earned a medical redshirt season. The Buckeyes are off to a 7-0 start this year.
Four Score and More
Four Ohio State players already have tallied a score (20) or more points in a game after seven contests this season. Freshman Deshaun Thomas tallied 24 points in his collegiate debut Nov. 12 vs. North Carolina A&T. Another rookie, center Jared Sullinger, along with senior David Lighty each scored 26 points in the win at then-No. 9 Florida Nov. 16. Fellow senior, guard Jon Diebler, contributed 20 points in Ohio State’s home win over Morehead State Nov. 23. Lighty tallied 21 against Miami (Ohio) Nov. 26. Sullinger poured in 40 points for the Buckeyes in the most recent win vs. IUPUI Dec. 9 in a 75-64 victory. Lighty (4), Diebler (7), junior William Buford (6) and 2010 National Player of the Year Evan Turner (10) all scored 20 or more points multiple times last season.
Matta’s Buckeyes Start Strong Again
Entering the game with Western Carolina, Thad Matta has led Ohio State to 7-0 starts three times over his seven-year tenure in Columbus. The Buckeyes started 11-0 in 2005-06 and 9-0 in 2008-09.
Sullinger Earns Conference Awards
Freshman Jared Sullinger was named Co-Player of the Week (Nov. 22) and claimed his third Big Ten Freshman of the Week Dec. 6 when the Big Ten announced its weekly award winners. Sullinger had 13 rebounds and 11 points in the Buckeyes’ win over Florida State (Nov. 30). He previously averaged 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting nearly 70 percent from the field in wins over No. 9 Florida (Nov. 16) on the road and UNC Wilmington (Nov. 20) at home. Sullinger tallied 26 points and 10 rebounds in Gainesville vs. the Gators and then added 11 points and eight rebounds against the Seahawks.
Buckeyes Win Title vs. Eagles
Ohio State claimed the best record in the Global Sports Invitational with a victory vs. Morehead State (64-45, Nov. 23). Ohio State was 4-0 in the event. Florida went 3-1, North Carolina A&T 1-3, and UNC Wilmington 2-2. Morehead State finished 0-4.
Buckeyes Balanced Offensively
After seven games, Ohio State has five players, including four starters, averaging in double-figures offensively. Freshman Jared Sullinger leads the team with 18.1 points per game. Sullinger is the squad’s top rebounder with 9.9 a contest. Senior David Lighty is next with 13.4 ppg. followed by classmate Jon Diebler and freshman reserve Deshaun Thomas (both with 11.4 ppg.). Junior William Buford contributes 11.5 ppg. Freshman Aaron Craft leads with 35 total assists. Senior starting center Dallas Lauderdale has 19 of the team’s 27 blocks on the year. Lauderdale also makes 65 percent of his field goals (13 of 20) while Sullinger (46-76/.605) and Thomas (33-61/.541) all connect at better then 50 percent from the field. Diebler has made 20 3-pointers on the season on 46 attempts (.435).
Diebler Moving Up in Big Ten
Senior Jon Diebler is among the Big Ten’s all-time Top 10 leaders in made 3-pointers. The sharpshooter from Upper Sandusky, Ohio, has made 280 career 3s, No. 8 on the all-time Big Ten list. He has averaged 2.46 made 3s a game for his 114-game career. On that pace, he will become the Big Ten’s all-time leader. Ohio State has a minimum of 25 games remaining, 24 in regular season games and at least one in the Big Ten tournament. He is on pace to make 71 more 3s this season, or 351 for his career. Pete Lisicky of Penn State (1994-98) currently owns the top spot in conference history with 332 made 3-pointers.
Big Ten Career 3-point leaders
1. 332 Pete Lisicky, PSU 1994-98
2. 331 Shawn Respert, MSU 1991-95
3. 327 Cory Bradford, ILL 1998-2002
4. 320 Craig Moore, NU 2006-09
5. 308 Joe Crispin, PSU 1998-2001
6. 299 Dee Brown, ILL 2002-06
7. 283 A.J. Guyton, IND 1997-2000
8 280 Jon Diebler, OSU 2008-
9. 271 Drew Neitzel, MSU 2004-08
10. 268 Dion Harris, MICH 2003-07
Buford, Sullinger Make Naismith List
Junior guard William Buford and freshman center Jared Sullinger, both Ohio natives, are among the early contenders for the Naismith Award, given annually to the college national player of the year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Ohio State’s Evan Turner was selected for the honor after the 2009-10 season. In late February, the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors will compile a mid-season team of the Top 30 players in the nation. Then in March, the Naismith Trophy voting academy will vote to narrow the list to the four finalists.
Sullinger, Williams Start Careers in Similar Fashion
Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger recorded a pair of double-doubles in his debut games as a Buckeye. He tallied 19 points and 14 rebounds in his first career game vs. NC A&T Nov. 12 and followed that effort with 26 points and 10 boards at Florida Nov. 16. He is the first freshman to start his career with back-to-back double-doubles since Herb Williams tallied three-consecutive D-Ds as a rookie in 1977. Williams did so against California Hayward (34/10), Marshall (21/22) and Stetson (18/16). Sullinger has four career double-doubles in seven games after grabbing 13 rebounds and scoring 40 points vs. IUPUI Dec. 9.
Buckeyes Know Mr. Basketball
The last four Associated Press Ohio HS Mr. Basketball awards have been earned by current Ohio State players. Senior Jon Diebler claimed the honor in 2007, junior William Buford claimed the honor in 2008 and freshman Jared Sullinger won it in both 2009 and 2010. Deshaun Thomas, another Ohio State rookie, claimed Indiana’s Mr. Basketball honor last year as a senior at Bishop Luers HS in Fort Wayne, Ind. Ohio State has had two of the last five Mr. Basketball honorees in Indiana with Greg Oden earning the honor in 2006.
Buckeyes Picked to Finish 2nd in Big Ten
Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue. That is the 2010-11 order of finish the Big Ten media selected at the annual media day in Chicago in late October. The Buckeyes return four starters and welcome one of the nation’s top recruiting classes after finishing the 2009-10 season 29-8 overall and winning the postseason conference tournament, a share of the regular-season crown and advancing to the 2010 NCAA Tournament “Sweet 16.”
Feast or Famine
The four returning starters from the 2009-10 season have played a combined 425 games at Ohio State with a total of 320 starts. Senior David Lighty leads that list with 127 games played and 95 starts.
Pollsters Like Buckeyes Early
Both the Associated Press (No. 4) and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches (No. 5) polls rated the Buckeyes among the nation’s elite teams heading into the 2010-11 season. Ohio State is currently ranked No. 2 in both polls. Opponents on the 2010-11 schedule Michigan State, Purdue, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida State and Northwestern are among the Top 25 or receiving votes for consideration in one or both polls.
Noting the IUPUI Game
- Ohio State’s four returning starters for the game have combined for 320 career starts and 419 games played.
- Ohio State moved to 128-23 (.850) at Value City Arena, improving to 74-5 vs. non-conference opponents.
- As a ranked team, Ohio State is 370-105 all-time.
- Ohio State improved to 20-7 when ranked No.2 in the country, and 105-17 when ranked among the Top 3 in the country.
- When ranked in the Top 10 nationally, Ohio State is 247-56 with wins in 38 of its last 40 outings.
- Ohio State freshmen have accounted for 51 percent of total scoring for the season, including 42 of Ohio State’s 75 total points against IUPUI.
- Ohio State is now 1-0 vs. IUPUI and 2-0 vs. teams from the Summit League.
- Ohio State has had a player record a double-double (10+ points, rebounds, assists, steals or blocks) in 810. The Buckeyes are 553-257 in those contests (.683). Freshman Jared Sullinger recorded a double-double (40 points, 13 rebounds) vs. IUPUI.
- Ohio State moved to 1-0 when tied at the half this season, and 3-3 under Coach Matta in his career.
- Ohio State went on a 21-4 run over 6:28 in the second half to turn a nine-point deficit into 61-54 lead.
- Thad Matta improved his career record to 265-53 overall and 163-54 at Ohio State.
- Matta is 84-17 vs. non-conference competition at Ohio State and 79-37 vs. Big Ten foes (regular season and Big Ten tournament games) for an overall record of 163-54. He also is 104-10 in Columbus.
- During Matta’s tenure at Ohio State, the Buckeyes are 149-5 when leading with five minutes to play. The Buckeyes are 3-2 when shooting the same field goal percentage as the opponent.
- Matta’s teams at Ohio State are 80-6 when shooting better than 50 percent from the field.
- Ohio State is 92-14 when outrebounding opponents under Matta (33-24 rebound advantage vs. IUPUI).
- With the win, Ohio State is 36-6 in December under Matta.
- Matta is now 1-0 vs. IUPUI in his career and 2-0 vs. teams from the Summit League.
- Against unranked teams at home, Matta is 91-2. He is 134-20 vs. unranked teams overall.
- This is the third time in eight seasons at Ohio State that Matta has led his team to a 7-0 start.
- Freshman Jared Sullinger scored in double figures for the sixth time this season. He led the Buckeyes in scoring with a career-high 40 points and 13 rebounds. He has four double-doubles in seven career outings. The last Buckeye to score 30 points in a game was Evan Turner vs. Tennessee on 3/26/10 in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen.
- Sullinger’s 40 points is a Value City Arena record for most points scored. It is the 10th 30-plus point game in Value City Arena history. Evan Turner had the previous record with 32 vs. Iowa for a Buckeye on 2/7/10 (Ray Barbosa, UMBC, 12/29/07 and Marcus Taylor, Michigan St., 2/27/02 also had 32 points as visitors).
- Sullinger’s 40 point performance is the first 40-point game since Dennis Hopson scored 41 at Dayton on 12/26/86. It’s the most points ever for a freshman at Ohio State. Michael Redd previously held the freshman record for points in a game with 32 vs. Penn State on 2/28/98 in an overtime loss (89-85) at St. John Arena.
- Sullinger’s 40 points are the most points for a freshman in a game since Greg Oden dropped 29 vs. Iowa on 1/20/07.
- Sullinger had a career high in free-throw attempts, making 16 of 23. Evan Turner was the last Buckeye to make at least 10 free-throws in a game. Turner was 10-12 vs. Illinois on 3/13/10 in the Big Ten Tournament last year.
- With 16 made free-throws, Sullinger’s performance places him tied for third all-time at Ohio State in free-throws made in a game.
- Sullinger’s 16 made free-throws and 23 attempted free-throws are both freshman records. It ties for the most free-throws made and is a free-throw attempt record by an Ohio State player in Value City Arena (Brent Darby was 16-18 vs. Illinois on 1/29/02).
- The 23 free-throw attempts by Jared Sullinger were five more than any Ohio State opponent attempt total this season (18 vs. NC A&T).
- David Lighty recorded his 102nd win as a Buckeye vs. the Jaguars on Thursday. He had 35 as a freshman, 25 as a sophomore, 29 as a junior and 7 during the 2008-09 season when he received a medical redshirt because of a broken foot.
- With three steals vs. IUPUI, Lighty passed Michael Redd (149) for eighth place on the all-time career steals list with 151 in his career.
- With three made 3-pointers, Jon Diebler remains in 8th-place all-time in Big Ten career 3-point field goals made, three behind A.J. Guyton (Indiana 1997-00) for 7th place.
- Diebler made three 3-pointers, pushing his Ohio State career record to 280.
- With three made 3-pointers, Diebler extends his streak to 23 games with at least one 3-pointer made.
- With 13 points against IUPUI, Diebler passed Jamaal Brown (1,139) and Frank Howard (1,147) to move into 31st-place at Ohio State in all-time career scoring with a total of 1,148 points.
- William Buford had 14 points to push his career total to 973, 27 shy of becoming the 47th player in Ohio State history to record 1,000 points.
- Dallas Lauderdale recorded one block to move his career total to 178, 9 shy of tying Brad Sellers for third all-time in Ohio State history.
Buford Next to 1,000
Ohio State will boast three players with at least 1,000 career points scored once junior William Buford reaches 96 points in the 2010-11 season (69 so far/973 for career). He scored 372 as a freshman and 532 a year ago for a total of 904 entering the campaign. Seniors David Lighty (1,106) and Jon Diebler (1,148) joined Ohio State’s 1,000-point club late last season. Diebler became the 45th player in Ohio State history to reach the 1,000 point plateau with 14 against Illinois March 13, 2010. Lighty reached 1,000 points with 18 vs. Georgia Tech in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. He was the third Buckeye, along with Evan Turner and Diebler, to achieve the feat last season. Lighty is the 46th player to reach 1,000 points in an Ohio State uniform.
Diebler On Track to Shatter Records
Senior Jon Diebler already owns several Ohio State 3-point shooting records and looks to increase his career totals from long range while setting new career marks in his last year of eligibility. Diebler’s career total of 280 made 3s and single season mark of 116 a year ago are Ohio State records. He has increased his shooting percentage during each of his three years at Ohio State from 29 percent as a freshman to 41.6 percent as a sophomore and 42 percent a season ago.
Buford Works with U.S. National Team
Junior William Buford was selected as one of 20 collegiate athletes to practice against the U.S. National Team July 19-24 in Las Vegas. Buford is Ohio State’s top returning scorer from the 2009-10 campaign at 14.4 points a game. He started all 37 contests for Ohio State a year ago and will be looked to for his offense and improving defense as a team veteran this season.
Lighty Offers Veteran Leadership
Fifth-year senior David Lighty has battled injury over his career, missing the majority of the 2008-09 season with a broken bone in his right foot and then re-injuring the same foot during off-season workouts following the 2009-10 season. He is on track to be ready for the start of this season. Lighty has played in 127 games during his career, starting 95. He could be Ohio State’s all-time leader in game appearances when his eligibility expires at the end of the 2010-11 season. He was part of the 2007 NCAA Championship game, three NCAA tournament appearances, a National Invitational Tournament title (2009), a pair of Big Ten Tournament titles (2007, 2010) and two Big Ten championships (2007, 2010) during his tenure as a Buckeye.
Career Gives Lighty Chance at Lowe’s Senior CLass Award
David Lighty is among several candidates for the 2010-11 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, presented each year to the outstanding senior NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Year across nine different sports. The acronym “CLASS” stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®. The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award celebrates the loyalty of seniors that honor a four-year commitment to their university. The Senior CLASS Award® recognizes these student-athletes for great achievement during competition and in their community while staying in school.
Schedule Notes
The Buckeyes made two trips to Florida in 2010. Ohio State defeated the University of Florida 93-75 Nov. 16 and traveled for the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge Nov. 30 at Florida State (W 58-44). South Carolina will face the Buckeyes in Columbus Dec. 18 to start a home-and-home series with USC. Northwestern and Michigan State face the Buckeyes once this season with Ohio State traveling to Evanston and playing host to the Spartans. All other league teams face the Buckeyes home-and-home. The Buckeyes open the league season at Indiana Dec. 31. Happy New Year!
Lighty, Kecman Recovering from Injury
David Lighty re-injured his right foot during spring workouts. It was the same injury that kept him out of the 2008-09 season. Lighty had surgery and spent the summer rehabilitating the injury. He was ready for the start of fall workouts. Junior Nikola Kecman suffered an ACL injury to his right knee. He had surgery in early July and is out indefinitely. He missed all but one game during the 2008-09 season with a similar injury to his left knee.
Buckeyes Again Look to Develop a Point
Thad Matta, now in his seventh season as the head coach of the Buckeyes, moved forward Evan Turner to the point guard position after the 2008-09 season. The experiment worked with Turner developing into the 2010 National Player of the Year and the No. 2 pick (Philadelphia) in the 2010 NBA Draft. The point guard position will again be open entering camp this year. Freshman Aaron Craft will get an opportunity but veterans David Lighty, Jon Diebler and William Buford could handle the position by committee as well. All have been working on the skills necessary to run the Buckeyes during the 2010-11 campaign.
Matta Looks for Another 20-Win Season
For each of the last 10 seasons, all as a head coach, Thad Matta has guided teams to at least 20 victories. Only Mark Few, among active coaches, has more consecutive 20-win seasons to start a career (11). Matta set the Ohio State record for consecutive 20-win campaigns in 2008-09 with a 22-11 record and extended it with a 29-8 campaign last season, the sixth-consecutive Ohio State season with 20+ victories. The previous record was four held by the 1960-63 teams under legendary head coach Fred Taylor. Matta also has won at least 10 Big Ten regular-season games in each of the last five seasons. That effort tied Taylor’s mark of 10+ league wins in each of the seasons from 1960-64. Those were during 14-game regular-season slates. The Big Ten played a 16-game schedule in Matta’s first three seasons (8, 12, 15 league wins) and an 18-game schedule the last three (10, 10, 14).
Dickerson Added to Staff
Dave Dickerson, former head coach at Tulane, was added to the Big Ten Champion Ohio State men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach in April. Dickerson replaced Alan Major, who accepted the head coaching position at Charlotte after last season. Prior to his time in New Orleans, Dickerson spent nine years as an assistant under former Ohio State coach Gary Williams at Maryland, his alma mater, and in 2004-05, was the program’s associate head coach. Dickerson also served as assistant coach at Gardner Webb (1990-91), James Madison (1991-92) and Radford (1993-96) before returning to Maryland. As a player, he lettered for the Terrapins from 1986-89, earning team captain status as a senior. A native of Olar, S.C., Dickerson graduated from Maryland in 1990 with a degree in government and politics.
Diebler is Three King
With four threes in the Big Ten semifinal against Illinois, junior Jon Diebler surpassed Jamar Butler as the all-time leader at Ohio State in 3-point makes. Butler played from 2005-08 and averaged nearly 61 made 3s a season (242 total). Diebler has averaged 70 (280 total) a season over four years. Butler’s career percentage from long range ranks No. 8 all time at 37.2 percent accuracy (242-650). Diebler is shooting 38.9 percent (280-719) for his career. This after connecting on just 29 percent (48-166) as a freshman. He shot 42 percent as a sophomore (96-231) and made 42 percent last season (116-276). In just four seasons has a Buckeye made 80 or more 3s. Diebler has two of those after knocking down 96 treys as a sophomore and 116 last year. Diebler set the single season record for made 3s in a season after making 11 treys in Milwaukee in the opening rounds of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Diebler surpassed the century mark from long range with five makes in the 2010 Big Ten Tournament title victory over Minnesota.
Sullinger Second Recruit to Earn Naismith HS Award in Last 5 yrs.
Jared Sullinger was named the Naismith High School Player of the Year March 10, 2010 by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Sullinger is the second Thad Matta recruit to earn the award in the last five years. Greg Oden earned the honor in 2006. Sullinger, of Columbus Northland HS, averaged 24 points, 12 rebounds and nearly two blocks a game for his national No. 1 ranked high school squad, which was coached by his father “Satch” Sullinger, the 2010 Naismith High School Coach of the Year.
Buckeyes Comfortable at VCA
The Buckeyes are 5-0 at home this season in Value City Arena. Ohio State finished 17-1 at home last season, the second most home victories in a season at Ohio State. The Buckeyes shot 52 percent at home and 41 percent from 3-point range in 2009-10. The team reached 100 or more points three times and averaged a margin of victory of +22.1. The Buckeyes opened the 2010-11 campaign with a 102-61 victory over NC A&T. Ohio State is 68-1 all-time when scoring 100 or more points in a game.
Lighty Could Join Turner, Jackson in OSU Record Book
Evan Turner (1,517 pts., 682 rebs., 414 asts.)became just the second player in recorded history to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists with eight helpers vs. Northwestern Jan. 19, 2010. Jim Jackson is the only other Buckeye to do so with 1,785 career points, 552 career rebounds and 372 career assists from 1990-92. David Lighty could join the duo this season. He currently has 1,106 points, 463 rebounds and 277 assists to his credit. Only 21 players in Ohio State history have scored more than 1,000 points and collected 500+ rebounds. Turner was the last to accomplish.
Ohio State vs. The Ranked
The Buckeyes have an all-time record of 135-221 vs. ranked opponents in the Associated Press Top 25. That includes a mark of 55-112 vs. Top 10 foes. As a ranked team, Ohio State is 368-105 all-time. In games when both teams enter with a Top 25 ranking, Ohio State is 55-47. When ranked among the Top 10 nationally, Ohio State is 247-56 with wins in 38 of last 40 outings.
Wins Follow Buckeye Double-Doubles
Ohio State has had a player record a double-double (10+ points, rebs, assists, steals or blocks) in 810 games. The Buckeyes are 553-257 in those contests (.682). Freshman Jared Sullinger (40/13) recorded a double-double in the win vs. IUPUI Dec. 9.
Double Digit 3s
Ohio State has made 10 or more 3-pointers in a game 68 times since the shot was instituted for the 1986-87 season. The Buckeyes are 57-11 in those games after knocking down 10 of 29 treys against UNC Wilmington Nov. 20. Opponents have made double-digit 3s 87 times and are 35-52 in those games vs. the Buckeyes. Matta’s Ohio State teams are 42-9 when making 10 or more 3s in a game. Opponents are 7-26 against Matta-coached teams when making 10 or more treys.
First Four Games Part of Global Sports Invitational
The first four games of the regular season made up the Global Sports Invitational on the Ohio State schedule. Home games vs. North Carolina A&T (W 102-61, Nov. 12), North Carolina Wilmington (W 81-41, Nov. 20) and Morehead State (W 64-45, Nov. 23) along with the road game vs. Florida (W 93-75, Nov. 16) comprised the event.
Buckeye Class of 2011 Added
Five student-athletes were added to the Buckeye men’s basketball program during the NCAA National of Letter of Intent early signing period Nov. 10-17. Three inked the first day, one, LaQuinton Ross, was added Nov. 14 and on the final day center Amir Williams became a Buckeye. The class of high school seniors is rated by analysts as a Top 5 class nationally.
Shannon Scott, son of former North Carolina star Charlie Scott, will play the point position for the Buckeyes when he arrives in Columbus.
As a high school player to date, Shannon (6-2, 165) led Milton High School in Alpharetta, Ga., to the 5A state championship with an overall 29-4 record as a junior. The squad was ranked No. 1 during the title run. He averaged 13 points and 8.0 assists last year.
Sam Thompson is the latest student-athlete from the Chicago area to join the Buckeyes. Evan Turner, the 2010 National Player of the Year and current Ohio State freshman Lenzelle Smith Jr., also call Chicagoland their home.
Thompson (6-6, 190) plays for Whitney Young High School in downtown Chicago where he won a state title as a sophomore with a 25-9 record. The squad was ranked No. 1 in Illinois that season. As a junior, Thompson led Whitney Young to a runner up finish in the state tournament with a record of 23-7. He averaged nearly 12 points. 8.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.6 blocks a game.
Trey McDonald, a 6-9, 230-pound center, plays for Battle Creek (Mich.) High School. His squad finished 11-9 last season. An all-city and all-conference performer as a junior, McDonald led his team in scoring with 10 points a game to go along with 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks an outing.
Ross, a 6-8, 195-pound forward from Jackson, Miss., joined the Buckeyes after his official visit Nov. 15. Ross played his junior season at Life Center Academy in Burlington, N.J., where he averaged nearly 17 points and eight rebounds a game. His team finished with a 14-6 record in 2009-10.
Williams, a 6-10 center from Detroit County Day High School, is rated No. 2 at his position nationally by ESPN, averaged 15.0 ppg., 10.2 rpg. and 4.8 bpg as a junior at Detroit Country Day in 2009-10. He was selected to the Max Preps 2010 Junior All-America third team and named an all-state selection after leading his team to the state championship a year ago. With USA Basketball, Williams was a member of the 2010 USA U18 National Team that compiled a 5-0 record, captured the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship gold medal and qualified the U.S. for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship.
