Season Gets Underway Sunday for Buckeyes – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 4, 2011
Nov. 6, 2011
Opponent: Walsh University (Exhibition)
Site: Value City Arena (19,049)
Game Time: 2 p.m. ET
Television: BTN.com
Talent: Evan Closky (play-by-play); Matt Sylvester (expert analysis)
Radio: OSU-IMG Sports Network (56 stations)
Satellite Radio: None
Local Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent: Paul Keels (play-by-play); Ron Stokes (expert analysis)
Buford on Preseason List for 2012 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award
Senior William Buford follows David Lighty (2011) as a candiate for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS award in 2012. Lighty was among the Top 10 finalists a year ago. Buford is one of 60 senior men’s college basketball student-athletes on the 2012 preseason list. The field will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the 2011-12 regular season. The finialists, recognized for excellence in community, classroom, character and competition, will travel to the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans, where the winner will be announced.
Sullinger earns All-America honors
The Associated Press is the lastest (Oct. 31) to select Ohio State sophomore Jared Sullinger as a 2011-12 preseason first team All-American. The Columbus, Ohio, native was a 2011 All-American as well after averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds as a rookie. Those numbers helped earn Sullinger the 2011 National Freshman of the Year award following Ohio State’s 34-3 overall record a year ago.
Big Ten Media Pick Buckeyes, Sullinger
Ohio State was picked as the preseason favorite to win the league regular-season title by a vote of the conference media (Oct. 27). Sophomore Jared Sullinger also was tabbed as the favorite to earn conference player-of-the-year accolades. He also was selected to represent Ohio State on the preseason all-conference squad. Ohio State has won back-to-back league titles and is in position to win a third-consecutive title for the first time since the Buckeyes won five-consecutive titles from 1960-64. The last Buckeye to enter the season as the player of the year selection was guard Scoonie Penn before the 1999-2000 campaign.
Buckeyes Touted Among Top 5
Ohio State enters the 2011-12 season ranked among the Top 5 nationally and as high as No. 3 in the both the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll (Oct. 20) and the Associated Press Poll (Oct. 28). The Buckeyes will face several teams this year among the AP Top 25 including No. 6 Duke, No. 8 Florida, No. 13 Kansas, No. 15 Wisconsin and No. 18 Michigan. Michigan State, Purdue, Illinois and Minnesota also received Top 25 consideration.
100 Years in Big Ten
Ohio State will celebrate 100 years as a member of the Big Ten Conference in men’s basketball in 2012. The Buckeyes finished in the No. 6 spot in 1913, the first season of league play. Over the 99 previous seasons, Ohio State has earned 19 Big Ten regular-season titles with 23 NCAA tournament appearance and one national championship (1960) and nine trips to the Final Four. Eight former coaches and players are members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame while nearly 50 student-athletes have been drafted by National Basketball Association teams, including 22 in the first round.
Honoring Bob Knight
The Ohio State men’s basketball program will pay tribute to Bob Knight, a 1962 graduate of Ohio State, throughout the day Dec. 20 when the Buckeyes play host to Lamar University (8:30 p.m. tip). Coach Knight, who accumulated 902 all-time collegiate victories during his career at Army, Indiana and Texas Tech, will be honored at a luncheon at the Ohio Union and then recognized during the game vs. Lamar, where his son Pat Knight, is in his first season as head coach. For more information on the luncheon event go to giveto.osu.edu./knightlunch, email Cindy Plummer at DevEvents@osu.edu or call 614-688-3249.
Jent Returns to Ohio State Sideline
Chris Jent left the professional ranks to return to his alma mater as an assistant basketball coach. Jent, who played and coached at the NBA level, played for the Buckeyes from 1988-92 and coached most recently for the Cleveland Cavaliers. As an Ohio State player, he helped the Buckeyes to back-to-back Big Ten titles and three-consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament. He spent 10 seasons in the professional ranks overseas, in the CBA and NBA. He was an assistant and interim head coach with the Orlando Magic before most recently coaching with the Cavaliers.
2011-12 Schedule among Best Nationally
Several Ohio State non-conference games will garner national attention this season in addition to the always rugged Big Ten slate of 18 regular-season contests. Ohio State will face Florida and Duke at Value City Arena with key non-league games at Kansas and South Carolina. With the addition of Nebraska to the conference schedule, league teams will play seven foes twice and four teams once during regular-season play. Ohio State plays host to Penn State and Purdue and will travel to Iowa and Minnesota. The rest of the league will compete against the Buckeyes both home and away.
Buford set for Record season
William Buford is the lone senior on the Ohio State roster this season. In fact, he is just one of two upperclassmen and the only player with more than a year of experience in an Ohio State uniform. After transfer Evan Ravenel, who transferred to Ohio State from Boston College and sat out the 2010-11 campaign, there are 11 freshmen (5) and sophomores (6) on the Ohio State roster. Buford enters this year with 1,424 career points over 106 career games (13.4 ppg.). Dennis Hopson (1984-87) is the all-time leading scorer in Ohio State history with 2,096 points over 125 career games played (16.8 ppg.). Buford is currently No. 22 on the Ohio State all-time scoring list.
Sullinger Closing on 1,000 point Club
Jerry Lucas reached the 1,000 point total in just 38 games. It took Michael Redd 49 contests. Jared Sullinger has played in 37 games to date with 635 points to his credit for an average of 17.2 a game. Only six players in history have reached 1,000 career points in fewer than 60 games played. Sullinger needs to average just under 16 points a game over the first 23 games of the 2011-12 season to become the seventh Buckeye to accomplish the feat.
Two-year OSU 1,000+ scorers
Player Career Pts. 2-Yr. Total Gms to 1,000
Jerry Lucas 1,990 1,381 38
Michael Redd 1,171 1,171 49
Dave Sorenson 1,622 1,041 52
Herb Williams 2,011 1,069 54
Brad Sellers 1,122 1,122 58
Jim Jackson 1,785 1,067 59
Paulus Leaves Navy to Work for Matta
Greg Paulus, who served as an assistant coach at Navy during the 2010-11 season, joined the Buckeyes last May to handle the program’s video needs. He replaced Kevin Kuwik, who left Thad Matta’s staff to become an assistant coach at Dayton. Paulus played basketball at Duke from 2006-09 and then a year of football at Syracuse.
Ohio State Streaks Entering 2011-12
2 Consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 Appearances (2010, 2011)
Consecutive Years with First Team All-American
(2010, E. Turner; 2011, J. Sullinger)
3 Consecutive Years in Big Ten Tournament Title Game (2009-11)
6 Consecutive wins in Big Ten Tournament (3-2010, 3-2011)
Consecutive years with at least 10 wins in Big Ten Conference Reg. Season
7 Consecutive 20-win seasons (all under Thad Matta)
Consecutive wins vs. Big Ten Opponents
Consecutive Seasons with 10+ Non-conference wins
(all under Matta)
Consecutive seasons with 15 or more home wins
(all under Matta)
9 Consecutive games opponent held under 67 points (8-1)
22 Consecutive home wins (last 2 in 2010, 20 in 2010-11)
27 Consecutive weeks in Associated Press Top 25 Poll
(last 9 2010, 18 in 2011)
Titles Mounting for Matta, Buckeyes
Thad Matta’s teams have won four Big Ten regular-season titles and three league tournament crowns during his seven-year tenure at Ohio State. Ohio State has won each of the last two regular-season and tournament titles. The Buckeyes have not posted three-consecutive Big Ten Conference crowns since winning a conference record five-consecutive titles from 1960-64 under the direction of head coach Fred Taylor. Taylor led Ohio State to seven league championships from 1959-76. Harold G. Olson win five Big Ten titles as coach between 1923-46.
Buckeyes Return Plenty
Despite the loss of three senior starters, the Buckeyes return the majority of the offensive production from a year ago. Seven 2010-11 letterwinners return nearly 63 percent of the team’s points (1,783 of 2,854), rebounds (805 of 1,277), assists 370 of 587 and steals (169 of 263) entering this season. Five incoming freshmen along with increased roles of the returning Buckeyes will attempt to make up for the losses of David Lighty (12.1 ppg.), Jon Diebler (12.6 ppg.) and Dallas Lauderdale (4.2 ppg, 54 total blocks). Four of the top six offensive players return in Jared Sullinger (17.2 ppg.), William Buford (14.4 ppg.), Deshaun Thomas (7.5 ppg.) and Aaron Craft (6.9 ppg.). Sullinger added 10.2 rebounds a game while Buford tallied 61 3-pointers while making 84 percent of his foul shots (59-70). Craft led the team in assists (177) and steals (73). Thomas was solid off the bench a year ago and is expected to have an increased role both offensively and defensively this year.
SCOTT, WILLIAMS ADD TO OHIO STATE’S 17-PLAYER MCDONALD’S LIST
Ohio State incoming freshmen Shannon Scott and Amir Williams were selected Feb. 10, 2011 to represent the East (Scott) and West (Williams) teams in the 2011 McDonald’s All-America game. The game was played March 30 at the United Center in Chicago. Scott led both teams with five steals. The East won the game 111-96. Scott also had four points, two rebounds and two assists over 12 minutes . Williams had six points, three rebounds and a steal in 11 minutes for the West squad. The Buckeyes will have five All-America game participants on their roster in 2011-12 in Jared Sullinger (2010), Deshaun Thomas (2010), William Buford (2008), Scott and Williams. Four McDonald’s All-Americans were a part of Ohio State’s 2006-07 squad that finished 35-4 overall, 15-1 in Big Ten Conference play, won the league regular-season title outright and played for the NCAA national title vs. Florida in April of 2007. Ivan Harris (2003), Greg Oden (2006), Mike Conley Jr. (2006) and Daequan Cook (2006), all former McDonald’s All-Americans, played for the Buckeyes in 2006-07. Previously, B.J. Mullens (2008), Kosta Koufos (2007), Clark Kellogg (1979), Perry Carter (1987), Treg Lee (1987), Jim Jackson (1989), Charles Macon (1992) and Greg Simpson (1992) all played for Ohio State after playing in the McDonald’s All-America game before joining the Ohio State program, a total of 17 all-time.
FIVE MR. BASKETBALL HONOREES ON OHIO STATE ROSTER
Ohio State’s contains four players who have combined to win five Mr. Basketball awards in their respective home states. Jared Sullinger leads the team with two Mr. Ohio Basketball accolades, achieving the distinction both in 2009 and 2010, while playing at Northland High School. Deshaun Thomas, a native Fort Wayne, Ind., and Bishop Luers High School, captured Mr. Indiana Basketball in 2010. Senior William Buford claimed 2008 Mr. Ohio Basketball with his performance at now-closed Libbey High School in Toledo. Freshman Shannon Scott brings the recognition of being named 2011 Mr. Georgia Basketball to Columbus after starring at Milton High School in Alpharetta, Ga. Freshman Amir Williams finished third in the 2011 Mr. Michigan Basketball voting.
