Oakland Up Next for 11-0 Buckeyes – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 23, 2010
No. 2 Ohio State (11-0) vs. Oakland (7-7)
Site: Value City Arena (19,049)
Game Time: 8 p.m. ET
Television: Big Ten Network
Talent: Craig Coshun (play-by-play)
Jim Jackson (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)
Tickets: Go to www.OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Matta Ties Best Start to Season
With the win over UNC Asheville, Thad Matta has led Ohio State to its second 11-0 start to a season over his seven-year tenure in Columbus. The Buckeyes also started 11-0 in 2005-06.
Yr. Start Yr. W Strk. Postseason
1960-61 27-0 NCAA Title game
1961-62 22-0 NCAA Title game
1990-91 17-0 NCAA Regional Semifinal
2005-06 11-0 NCAA 2nd Round
2010-11 11-0
2008-09 9-0 NCAA First Round
Fifth FOW Goes to Sullinger
Ohio State rookies have earned all six Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week awards this season and Jared Sullinger claimed the league’s freshman of the week honor for the fifth time Monday (classmate Deshaun Thomas has the other). Sullinger averaged 20.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in wins vs. Florida Gulf Coast and South Carolina last week. He scored 30 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in the South Carolina victory. Sullinger also has a pair of conference player of the week awards. He is the first freshman to earn the league’s player of the week honor twice in a season since the Buckeyes’ Greg Oden did so as a rookie in 2006-07.
Matta Reaches Double-Digit Wins vs. Non-Conference Foes
Thad Matta has directed Ohio State to at least 10 wins during non-conference play in each of his seven seasons in Columbus. Matta is 88-17 vs. non-conference competition at Ohio State and 79-37 vs. Big Ten competition (regular season and Big Ten tournament games) for an overall record of 167-54.
Non-Conf. Big Ten Overall
Yr. W L W L W L
2005 11 3 9 9 20 12
2006 12 1 14 5 26 6
2007 17 3 18 1 35 4
2008 14 4 10 9 24 13
2009 11 2 11 9 22 11
2010 12 4 17 4 29 8
2010 11 0 0 0 11 0
88 17 79 37 167 54
UNC Asheville High-Lighty(s)
Senior forward David Lighty went for a season-high 29 points against UNC Asheville Tuesday, setting career highs in made 3-point field goals (7), 3-point field goals attempted (10 and made field goals (11). The Cleveland native exploded for the first 11 points of the game, helping the Buckeyes to an 11-2 lead over the first 2:45 of the game.
Jon “3-Bler” Diebler Strikes vs. FGCU
Senior Jon Diebler turned in another record individual performance in the span of three games for the 10-0 and No. 2 ranked Buckeyes. After freshman Jared Sullinger set all sorts of Big Ten, Ohio State and personal marks with 40 points vs. IUPUI Dec. 9, Diebler followed suit making 9-of-14 3-pointers in the win vs. Florida Gulf Coast Dec. 15.
Noting Diebler’s 3-point barrage vs. FGCU:
- Most 3s made at Value City Arena-9
- Most 3s made in OSU history-tie
- Most 3s attempted in a game-14 (tie)
- Second most 3s made in Big Ten history-tie
- Most consecutive 3s made in OSU History-9
- Most 3s made at Value City Arena-9
- Most 3s attempted at Value City Arena-14 (tie)
- Last Big Ten player with 9 made 3s was Matt Roth of Indiana vs. OSU 1/31/09
- Diebler moved to No. 7 all-time in Big Ten history with 293 made 3s (now has 294), an OSU career record
Sullinger with Another 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. He then followed that effort with a 30-point, 19 rebound outing in the most recent victory over South Carolina Dec. 18. He has since added 16 boards vs. UNC Asheville, tied for the fifth-most by an OSU rookie in a single game.
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
- 3rd Most FTs attempted in Big Ten history
- 2nd 40-pt. by a Big Ten freshman all-time
- No. 17-T Single Game Scoring at Ohio State
- 57th time OSU player to score 35+ in a game-
- 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.
Noting Sullinger’s 30 pt., 19 reb. game vs. USC:
- Fifth double-double of the season and ninth game in double figures
- Tied third-most points by an Ohio State freshman in a game
- Tied for the third-most in Value City Arena (David Lighty vs. Cleveland St., 12/22/09 and Scoonie Penn vs. Wisconsin, 2/24/99 each had 30)
- 19 rebounds are a Value City Arena record (Evan Turner had 17 11/12/09 vs. James Madison and 11/9/10 vs. Alcorn St.)
- Tied for second for most rebounds in a game for a freshman (Herb Williams had 22 vs. Marshall, 11/28/77). Greg Oden had 19 boards vs. Purdue March 10, 2007
- Defensive rebounds (14) are the most for an Ohio State freshman (Greg Oden previously held the record with 13 vs. Tennessee on 1/13/07).
- Defensive rebounds are tied for most defensive boards in Value City Arena history (Evan Turner vs. James Madison, 11/12/09)
- Hit first career 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half, giving Ohio State a 42-21 halftime advantage
SCOUTING OAKLAND
The Oakland University Grizzlies have played a Big Ten schedule to date with visits to Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan and now Ohio State. Other road trips have been to West Virginia, Ohio University and Tennessee. The squad is 7-7 entering the game with the Buckeyes after splitting its home Lou Henson Award Holiday Tournament Monday and Tuesday. The Grizzlies defeated Rochester, 103-79, Monday before falling to Valparaiso, 103-102, in overtime Tuesday to end their 16-game home winning streak.
Prior to Rochester, wins have come against Ohio, Southern, Austin Peay, Southern Utah, Missouri-Kansas City and at Tennessee. Senior Keith Benson leads the team by averaging a double-double with 17.4 points and 10.4 rebounds a game. He is making 53 percent of his field goals and 71 percent from the foul line while blocking 46 shots and recording 13 steals on the year.
OHIO STATE SERIES VS. THE GRIZZLIES
The Buckeyes are 1-0 vs. Oakland with the teams last squaring off Dec. 27, 1999 in Columbus. Ohio State, then ranked No. 15 nationally, won 76-50. The Buckeyes are 2-0 all-time vs. teams representing the Summit League after downing conference member IUPUI earlier this month. Other teams in the league include Centenary, IPFW, UMKC, North Dakota State, Oral Roberts, South Dakota State, Southern Utah and Western Illinois.
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.
Big Ten
Year(s) Rd. W Strk. 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
Lighty Records Win No. 100
Senior David Lighty has been a part of 106 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 11-0 start this year.
Four Score and More
Four Ohio State players already have tallied a score (20) or more points in a game nine times after 11 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 and then most recently with a career-high 29 vs. Florida Gulf Coast Dec. 15. Lighty tallied 21 against Miami (Ohio) Nov. 26 and added a season-high 29 vs. UNC Asheville. Sullinger poured in 40 points for the Buckeyes in the recent win vs. IUPUI Dec. 9, a 75-64 victory and then added 30 points vs. South Carolina Dec. 18 (W 79-57). 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.
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 11 games, Ohio State has five players, including four starters, averaging in double-figures offensively. Freshman Jared Sullinger leads the team with 17.6 points per game. Sullinger is the squad’s top rebounder with 10.2 a contest. Senior David Lighty is next with 13.2 ppg., followed by classmate Jon Diebler (12.6 ppg.) and junior William Buford with 12.5 ppg. Freshman Deshaun Thomas contributes 10.5 ppg.
Freshman Aaron Craft leads with 49 total assists. Senior starting center Dallas Lauderdale has 25 of the team’s 42 blocks on the year. Lauderdale also makes 65 percent of his field goals (26 of 40) while Sullinger (69-117/.590), Craft (20-39/.513) and Diebler (44-88/.500) all connect at 50+ percent from the field. Diebler has made 34 3-pointers on the season on 73 attempts (.466).
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 294 career 3s, No. 7 on the all-time Big Ten list. He has averaged 2.50 made 3s a game for his 118-game career. On that pace, he will become the Big Ten’s all-time leader. Ohio State has a minimum of 21 games remaining, 20 in regular season games and at least one in the Big Ten tournament. He is on pace to make 73 more 3s this season, or 365 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. 294 Jon Diebler, OSU 2008-
8. 283 A.J. Guyton, IND 1997-2000
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 (David Lighty, Dallas Lauderdale, Jon Diebler and William Buford) from the 2009-10 season have played a combined 441 games at Ohio State with a total of 336 starts. Senior David Lighty leads that list with 131 games played and 99 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 and Northwestern are among the Top 25 or receiving votes for consideration in one or both polls.
Noting the UNC Asheville Game:
Ohio State 96, UNC Asheville 49 (Dec. 21)
- Ohio State’s four returning starters (Jon Diebler, David Lighty, Dallas Lauderdale and William Buford) have combined for 336 career starts and 441 games played.
- Ohio State moved to 131-23 (.850) at Value City Arena, improving to 77-5 vs. non-conference opponents.
- As a ranked team, Ohio State is 374-105 all-time.
- Ohio State improved to 24-7 when ranked No.2 in the country, and 109-17 when ranked among the Top 3 in the country.
- When ranked in the Top 10 nationally, Ohio State is 251-56 with wins in 42 of its last 44 outings.
- Ohio State freshmen have accounted for 47 percent of total scoring for the season, including 40 of Ohio State’s 96 total points against UNC Asheville.
- Ohio State is now 4-0 vs. UNC Asheville all-time and 12-0 vs. teams from the Big South Conference (last game vs. UNC Asheville was an 83-59 victory on 12/22/08).
- Ohio State moved to 9-0 when leading at the half this season and 139-19 under Thad Matta.
- This is the 235th- consecutive game Ohio State has made at least one 3-point field goal (1/10/04 vs. Penn State was the last game with zero made).
- Ohio State’s 59 percent field-goal percentage in the first-half is a season high. The Buckeyes’ 50 percent 3-point field goal percentage in the first-half also tied a season high (11/26/10 vs. Miami).
- Tuesday vs. UNC Asheville was the ninth time this season a player has scored 20 or more points in a game. Lighty had 29 points, the fourth time he has scored 20+ in a game this year (Diebler-2, Sullinger-3 and Thomas-1).
- Ohio State’s 47-point margin of victory is the largest of the season. The Buckeyes have defeated four schools located in North Carolina by an average of 38 points (def. UNC A&T 102-61, UNC Wilmington 81-41 and Western Carolina 85-60).
- Thad Matta improved his career record to 269-85 overall and 167-54 at Ohio State.
- The 11-0 start to the season is tied for the best start for Matta at Ohio State (started 2005-06 11-0).
- Matta is 88-17 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 167-54. He also is 108-10 in Columbus.
- During Matta’s tenure at Ohio State, the Buckeyes are 153-5 when leading with five minutes to play.
- The Buckeyes are 9-0 this season and 150-17 when shooting a better field-goal percentage than the opponent.
- When Ohio State has fewer than 15 turnovers, they are 10-0 on the season and 138-43 under Matta (OSU had 11 turnovers vs. UNC Asheville).
- Ohio State is 8-0 on the season and 95-14 under Matta when out-rebounding its opponent (OSU out-rebounded UNC Asheville 45-27).
- With the win, Ohio State is 40-6 in December under Matta.
- Matta is now 3-0 vs. UNC Asheville in his career and 9-0 vs. teams from the Big South Conference.
- Against unranked teams at home, Matta is 95-2. He is 138-20 vs. unranked teams overall.
- Under Matta, Ohio State is 7-0 this season and 111-11 overall when scoring 70+ points in a game.
- When shooting better than 50 percent from the field, Ohio State is 9-0 this season and 160-45 under Matta.
- Freshman Jared Sullinger led the Buckeyes with 16 rebounds. It is the sixth time this season he has had 10 or more rebounds and his second time with more than 15.
- Sullinger led the Buckeyes with five assists.
- With one made 3-pointer, Diebler has 294 on his career and is five away from tying Dee Brown (Illinois – 299) for sixth-place in career 3-pointers made in Big Ten history.
- With the 3-pointer, Diebler extends his streak to 27 games with at least one 3-pointer made.
- With nine points against UNC Asheville, Diebler now has 1,207 career points, four behind Luke Witte (1,211) for 29th-place in career scoring in Ohio State history.
- David Lighty led the Buckeyes with a season-high 29 points.
- Lighty scored the first 11 points of the game, giving the Buckeyes an early 11-2 advantage to begin the contest.
- Lighty set his career high in made 3-point field goals with seven and 3-point field goals attempted (10), going 7-10 in the game.
- Lighty’s 11 made field-goals are a career-high.
- Lighty’s seven-made 3-point field goals is tied for fifth all-time in a game (four other players have seven).
- With 29 points, Lighty passed Richard Schnittker (1,129), Jamaal Brown (1,139) and Frank Howard (1,147) to move into 32nd place on the all-time scoring list at Ohio State with 1,157 career points.
- Lighty recorded his 106th win as a Buckeye vs. the Bulldogs on Tuesday. He had 35 as a freshman, 25 as a sophomore, 29 as a junior and seven during the 2008-09 season when he received a medical redshirt because of a broken foot. He is five wins away from owning the Ohio State record.
- Lighty has played in 131 games as a Buckeye, which is good for fourth all-time. He is one game away from tying Jamar Butler for third-place all-time.
- Lighty also has started 99 games for Ohio State, which is now tenth all-time in Ohio State history.
- William Buford had 14 points to push his career total to 1,029, surpassing Jason Singleton (1,022) and Bill Andreas (1,023) for 44th-place all-time in career scoring at Ohio State.
- Deshaun Thomas scored in double-figures for the sixth-time this season. He finished the game with 13 points.
Buford Reaches 1,000 Career Points
Ohio State boasts three players with at least 1,000 career points scored since junior William Buford reached the 96 points he needed in the 2010-11 season. With 17 points in the win vs. Florida Gulf Coast Dec. 15, Buford reached 1,000 and now has 1,029 career points, the 47th Buckeye all-time to reach 1,000. He scored 372 as a freshman and 532 a year ago for a total of 904 entering the campaign.
Seniors David Lighty (1,157) and Jon Diebler (1,207) 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 was 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 294 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. He is currently shooting 47 percent from long range (34-73) and is at 39 percent for his career (294-746).
Diebler is Three King
With four 3s in the 2010 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 73 (294 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 39.4 percent (294-746) 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.
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 131 games during his career, starting 99. 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.
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 8-0 at home this season in Value City Arena (1-0 at St. John 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 1,157 points, 472 rebounds and 294 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 372-105 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 251-56 with wins in 42 of last 44 outings.
Wins Follow Buckeye Double-Doubles
Ohio State has had a player record a double-double (10+ points, rebs, assists, steals or blocks) in 811 games. The Buckeyes are 554-257 in those contests (.682). Freshman Jared Sullinger (30/19) recorded a double-double in the win vs. South Carolina Dec. 18.
Double Digit 3s
Ohio State has made 10 or more 3-pointers in a game 70 times since the shot was instituted for the 1986-87 season. The Buckeyes are 59-11 in those games after knocking down 11-of-24 treys against UNC Asheville Dec. 21. Opponents have made double-digit 3s 87 times and are 35-52 in those games vs. the Buckeyes. Matta’s Ohio State teams are 46-9 when making 10 or more 3s in a game. Opponents are 9-29 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.
