Ohio State Travels to Illinois for Super Tuesday Clash with Illini – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2012
Jan. 10, 2012
No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes (15-2, 3-1) at Illinois Fighting Illini (14-3, 3-1)
Site: Assembly Hall (16,618)
Game Time: 9 p.m. ET
Television: ESPN
Talent: Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Dan Dakich (expert analysis)
Radio: OSU-IMG Sports Network (56 stations)
Satellite Radio: Sirius-91, XM-91
Local Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent: Paul Keels (play-by-play), Ron Stokes (expert analysis)
Buford Reaches 100 Wins as a Buckeye
Senior William Buford reached career win No. 100 as a Buckeye at Iowa Jan. 7. David Lighty (2007-11) holds the Ohio State recored for wins with 129. Walk-ons Mark Titus and Danny Peters were part of Ohio State’s program for 110 victories over their careers (2007-10). The four-year record for victories by scholarship players was originally set by Jamar Butler and Matt Terwilliger from 2005-08 with 105. The 2009 team had 107 wins from 2006-09 but there were no four-year seniors on that squad.
| Wins | Seniors | Yr.-by-Yr. |
| 129 | David Lighty (2007-2011) | 35,24,7,29,34 |
| 110 | Danny Peters, Mark Titus (2007-10) | 35,24,22,29 |
| 109 | Jon Diebler, Dallas Lauderdale (2008-11) | 24,22,29,34 |
| 107 | None (2006-09) | 26,35,24,22 |
| 105 | Jamar Butler, Matt Terwilliger (2005-08) | 20,26,35,24 |
| 100 | William Buford (2009-12) | 22,29,34,15 |
Sullinger Named B1G Player of the Week
Sophomore Jared Sullinger was named the Big Ten Player of the Week Jan. 9 after averaging a double-double in wins over Nebraska and Iowa with 23.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds in Ohio State’s 71-40 win over Nebraska before pouring in 28 points, eight rebounds and four steals in the Buckeyes’ 76-47 road win at Iowa. This is Sullinger’s fifth career Player of the Week award and first this season.
Craft In Top 20 for Cousy Award
Sophomore Aaron Craft is among 20 candidates for the Bob Cousy Award after the list was trimmed from an initial pool of 60 candidates. The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes the top point guards in college basketball. This current list of candidates will be narrowed down to a final 10 by Feb. 1 and final five by March 1. Craft currently leads the Buckeyes in assists (86) and steals (44).
Defense Clicks in last two outings
Ohio State’s last two opponents have both recorded more turnovers than field goals. Against Nebraska Jan. 3, Ohio State forced 17 turnovers while the Cornhuskers scored 16 field goals. In the win at Iowa, the Buckeyes had a hand in 20 Hawkeye miscues while Iowa managed 17 made field goals. For the week, Ohio State forced 37 turnovers while opponents tallied 33 field goals. The Buckeyes connected on 53 percent of their shots (63-120) while foes scored at a 31 percent clip (33-105). The Buckeyes recorded 85 rebounds while opponents grabbed 52. The Buckeyes’ average margin of victory last week was 30 points (73.5-43.5). Since Thad Matta took over the program in 2004-05, Ohio State teams have forced 24 opponents into more turnovers than it scored. Four times the Buckeyes have done so against Big Ten foes, once vs. Michigan in 2009 (21 TOs/15 FGs), twice vs. Iowa (23/22 in 2011 and 20/17 2012) and vs. Nebraska (17/16 in 2012).
The Buckeyes in the Big Ten
The Buckeyes rank No. 2 in both scoring offense (78.0 ppg.) and scoring defense (54.9 ppg.) after a 15-2 overall start. Ohio State’s scoring margin of 23.1 ppg. leads the league while the .496 field goal shooting percentage rates in the No. 2 spot. Led by Jared Sullinger, Ohio State is among the Top 2 teams in rebounding offense (37.9 rpg., No. 2) and rebounding defense (29.1 rpg., No. 1). Overall, the Buckeyes are No. 2 in rebound margin (+8.8 rpg.). Behind Aaron Craft, Ohio State is the leader in assists (17.4 apg.) and turnover margin (+6.4) on the year among Big Ten teams. The Buckeyes also have the highest attendance in the league with 15,642 attending on average this season.
100 Years in Big Ten
Ohio State celebrates 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 the 1913 conference standings, 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 appearances, 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.
Ohio State vs. Illinois
Illinois leads the all-time series with the Buckeyes 99-64. Ohio State has closed the gap of late with a five-game win streak and wins in 10 of the last 12 meetings. The Buckeyes have won four of the last five in Champaign. All-time, Ohio State is 24-58 in games at Illinois. Ohio State enters the game ranked No. 5 nationally in the Associated Press Poll. Ohio Sate is 21-9 all-time as a ranked team in the series. The Buckeyes have won the last 11 games in the series as a ranked team. Jared Sullinger is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Buckeyes in the Illinois series. He has averaged 19.5 points and 13.5 rebounds while connecting on 13 of 29 FGs (.448). William Buford averages 13.6 points in seven career games vs. the Illini. He has made 11 of 15 foul shots (.733) against Illinois and averages 5.0 rebounds.
Ohio State vs. the Big Ten
Ohio State is 727-663 vs. current members of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes are playing their 100th season of Big Ten Basketball this season.
OSU vs. The Big Ten
| Illinois | 64-99 |
| Indiana | 74-100 |
| Iowa | 70-73 |
| Michigan | 90-71 |
| Michigan State | 51-58 |
| Minnesota | 78-55 |
| Nebraska | 5-2 |
| Northwestern | 110-45 |
| Penn State | 27-12 |
| Purdue | 76-83 |
| Wisconsin | 82-65 |
| Totals | 727-663 |
Thomas Named B1G Player of Week
Ohio State sophomore Deshaun Thomas made 17-consecutive shots from inside the 3-point line in games vs. South Carolina Upstate (Dec. 14) and at South Carolina (Dec. 17). He made his last six attempts against S.C. Upstate and then all 11 2-pointers in the road win at South Carolina. For the season he is shooting 63 percent from 2-point range (81-129). He was 19-21 from short range the week of Dec. 12 while shooting 74 percent overall (23-31), including a 13-16 shooting effort at South Carolina, where he tallied a career-high 30 points. He averaged 26.5 points in the two games. His efforts earned him the Big Ten Player of the Week honor. The last Ohio State player to earn the honor was Jon Diebler March 7, 2011. Thomas was named the league’s freshman of the week once last season.
Matta Reaches 300, 200 at OSU
Thad Matta has a career record of 307-90 (397 career games) over 12 years as a head coach, which includes a 205-59 record in eight seasons at Ohio State. Matta coached for one season at Butler and three at Xavier before taking over the Ohio State program for the 2004-05 season. In his time with the Buckeyes, Matta has four Big Ten regular season titles and three Big Ten tournament crowns. The Buckeyes have been to five NCAA tournaments with Matta at the helm. He has taken nine teams to NCAA tournament play and won the 2008 National Invitational Tournament with Ohio State.
The Third to 200 as a Buckeye
Two previous coaches have reached the 200-win plateau at Ohio State. Thad Matta became the third with the 74-66 win at South Carolina Dec. 17. Fred Taylor recorded 297 career victories from 1959-1976 while also earning 158 Big Ten Conference regular-season victories. Harold G. Olsen tallied 259 all-time wins from 1923-46. He accumulated 154 Big Ten victories. Matta has 205 wins as a Buckeye over eight seasons with 88 wins in Big Ten regular-season play. His winning percentage of 77.7 overall and 71.0 in conference play are tops among the 13 head coaches in Ohio State history.
Ross Returns to Ohio State Roster
LaQuinton Ross, a 6-foot-8-inch freshman forward from Jackson, Miss., was been added to the Ohio Stare roster for the remainder of his freshman season. Ross attended classes and worked out with the Buckeyes over the summer before leaving the team just prior to the start of official practice in October to work on meeting NCAA academic qualification requirements. He met those requirements and joined the team Dec. 11. He officially became eligible Dec. 9. He dressed for the first time in his No. 10 Ohio State uniform vs. South Carolina Upstate. His first game action came against Miami (Ohio) at Nationwide Arena Dec. 22. He knocked down his first career field goal attempt, a 3-pointer, and finished with 5 points in four minutes of court time.
NCAA Stats Update (as of 1/9/12)
Ohio State rates among the Top 10 in several NCAA statistical categories after 17 games. The Buckeyes are No. 1 in scoring margin (+23.1 ppg.), No. 3 in turnover margin (+6.2), No. 8 in assist/turnover ratio (+1.47) and No. 6 in scoring defense (54.9). Aaron Craft is No. 9 in steals per game (2.6 spg.). The Buckeyes have the third longest home win streak in the country at 35. Kentucky (45, next vs. Arkansas Jan. 17) and Duke (43, Virginia Jan. 12 lead the nation.
Ohio State Move to No. 5
Ohio State moved to No. 5 in the Associated Press poll released Jan. 9. The Buckeyes are 36-5 all-time as the No. 5-ranked team in the AP poll and 34-30 when both teams are ranked in the Top 15 after the loss to No. 13 Kansas. In the most recent poll six Buckeyes’ opponents are among the Top 25.
Buford 17th to Reach 1,500 Career Pts.
With 23 points against VMI Nov. 23, senior William Buford surpassed 1,500 career points to become the 17th Buckeye in history to reach that mark. Over 123 career games, Buford has averaged 13.7 points for a total of 1,686. He also became the 16th player all-time to reach both 1,500 points and the 500-rebound mark (552) with five boards vs. Duke Nov. 29.
Sullinger Moving up Career Double-Double Charts
Sophomore Jared Sullinger has recorded at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in three of the last five games he has played for a career total of 26. He tied the Ohio State freshman record with 18 double-doubles a season ago. His career total is 13th all-time. Evan Turner was the most recent Buckeye to reach 20 or more career double-doubles with 27 from 2008-10. That total is tied for No. 11 all-time with John Havlicek (1960-62). Through 15 games, Sullinger is averaging 17.1 points and 9.6 rebounds a game. He tallied 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds a game as a freshman.
Buckeyes Opened with Eight at Home
The Buckeyes played the last of their first eight games at home, the longest streak of home games to start a season since the 1909-10 team began the campaign with 10-consecutive games in Columbus, vs. UTPA Dec. 3. That run was the longest to start a season since the opening of Value City Arena for the 1998-99 season. The Buckeyes opened with six at home (6-0) in 2006-07 at VCA and seven games (5-2) at St. John Arena in 1997-98. The Buckeyes made their first road trip of the season this year to Kansas Dec. 10.
Noting the Iowa Game (Jan. 7)
- The Buckeyes move to 70-73 all-time vs. Iowa, having now won the previous seven meetings. Ohio State is 23-47 at Iowa, having won the last four at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
- As a ranked team, the Buckeyes are 22-10 vs. the Hawkeyes, including the last seven.
- Ohio State moves to 727-663 overall in the Big Ten.
- The Buckeyes are 36-6 in their last 42 Big Ten matchups, dating back to 3/8/09.
- The last time the Buckeyes defeated three Big Ten teams by 25 or more points in the same season was during the 1960-61 season, where Ohio State beat Northwestern 79-45, Purdue 92-62, Wisconsin 100-68 and Indiana 100-65.
- The Buckeyes have now won by double figures in 13 of their 15 victories this year. 12 of their wins have been by 22 or more points. Ohio State’s 22.2 average margin of victory is No. 3 nationally.
- As a ranked team, Ohio State is 410-110 overall and when ranked in the AP Top 10, the Buckeyes are 289-61.
- Ohio State has now won 57 consecutive games vs. unranked opponents.
- As the AP No. 6 ranked team in the nation, Ohio State moves to 18-8 overall.
- In their last 70 games, the Buckeyes are 63-7.
- Since the start of the 2008-09 season, Ohio State has accumulated 100 victories, which is the fifth-most during that period (Duke-108, Kansas-105, Syracuse-100, Kentucky-100, Ohio State-100, UNC-96).
- This is the 279th-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).
- Two players scored in double figures for Ohio State. So far this season, seven Buckeyes have scored in doubles figures a total of 54 times.
- The starting lineup of Buford, Craft, Smith, Jr., Sullinger and Thomas is 13-1 this season.
- The Buckeyes had 21 team assists vs. Iowa. They are averaging 17.6 apg, which places them No. 8 in the country.
- The win vs. Iowa was Coach Thad Matta’s 205th win at Ohio State and his 101st Big Ten victory since beginning his Ohio State career.
- Matta’s career record improves to 307-90 overall and 205-59 at Ohio State.
- With the win, Matta moves to 105-42 in the Big Ten during his career
- Matta improves to 10-4 all-time vs. Iowa.
- Matta’s .778 winning percentage at Ohio State is the best among Big Ten coaches since Matta became the Buckeyes’ head coach in 2004.
- Ohio State is 43-19 in January under Coach Matta.
- The Scarlet and Gray are 124-18 when grabbing more rebounds than the opponent, including 12-1 this season (OSU outrebounded Iowa 41-31).
- When shooting a better percentage than the opponent, Ohio State moves to 182-19 under Matta, including 15-1 this season.
- When shooting 50 percent or better from the field, Ohio State is 7-0 this season and 101-7 under Matta.
- The Buckeyes are 172-20 overall and 14-0 this season when leading at the half.
- Ohio State is 190-5 under Matta when leading with five minutes to play, including 15-0 this year.
- Ohio State is 13-1 this season and 141-12 when scoring 70 or more points in a game under Matta. The Buckeyes had 76 points in the win over Iowa.
- The start was William Buford’s 115th donning the Scarlet and Gray, tying Jon Diebler for seventh place in career games started at Ohio State.
- Buford is just the fourth Buckeye in recorded history to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists. Buford’s current totals are 1,686/552/319.
- The win was Buford’s 100th at Ohio State. He is 4-0 at Iowa.
- Buford scored eight points for the Buckeyes, improving his career total to 1,686, which is eighth all-time in Ohio State career scoring. He is 70 points behind Jay Burson (1,756) for seventh place.
- Buford had a season high 11 rebounds to push his career total to 552 (nine vs. Northwestern, 12/18/11). He is one of 17 former Buckeyes in the prestigious 1,500 point and 500 rebound club.
- Buford had five assists. He now has 52 this season and 319 for his career.
- Buford is on pace to become the fifth player in Ohio State history to join the 400 (made field goals) and 4,000 (minutes played) Club. After the Iowa win, Buford has now tallied 636 made field goals and 3,946 minutes played in 122 career games (J. Diebler, D. Lighty, J. Butler and H. Williams are the other Buckeyes to achieve this feat).
- Sullinger had a season high 28 points for the Buckeyes. It is the 14th time this season and 48th time in his career he has scored in double figures.
- Sullinger had eight rebounds, pushing his career total to 521.
- Sullinger tied a career high with four steals (4 vs. Valparaiso, 11/15/11).
- Deshaun Thomas finished with 10 points. It is the 26th time in his career he has scored in double figures.
- Thomas has scored in double figures in 15 of his last 16 games played. The 15 times this season are a team high.
- Thomas had four rebounds to reach 200 for his career.
- Aaron Craft had one steal. He has 117 for his career. He has had at least one steal in all 17 games this season. He has had at least three steals or more in nine games this season.
- Craft had three to push his season total to 96 and his career total to 262. He has had at least three in every game this season and seven games with five or more.
- Scott had six assists vs. the Hawkeyes. It was the third time in his career he has had five or more in first in the Big Ten.
- Scott had a career high five rebounds (3 vs. Wright State, 11/11/11).
Buckeyes win Global Sports Event
The first four games of the regular season made up the Global Sports Shootout on the Ohio State schedule. Home games vs. Wright State (W 73-43, Nov. 11), Florida (W 81-74, Nov. 15), Jackson State (W 85-41, Nov. 15) and North Florida (W 85-50, Nov. 21) made up the event. Ohio State won a similar event a year ago with a 4-0 record beating North Carolina A&T, Florida on the road, UNC Wilmington and Morehead State in the Global Sports Invitational.
Matta Looks for Another 20-Win Season
For each of the last 11 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 (12). Matta set the Ohio State record for consecutive 20-win campaigns in 2008-09 with a 22-11 record and extended it with a 34-3 campaign in 2010-11, the seventh-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 six seasons. That effort eclipsed 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 four (10, 10, 14, 16). Ohio State also is the two-time defending Big Ten regular-season champion. The last time the Buckeyes won three or more consecutive titles was from 1960-64, a string of five-consecutive conference crowns.
400 And 4,000 Club
Senior William Buford has scored 636 career field goals and logged 3,946 career minutes in 123 games. He is on pace to join a small group of former Buckeyes with more than 400 field goals and 4,000 minutes played. David Lighty was added to an exclusive club following the game vs. Illinois Jan. 22, 2011. The former Buckeye reached 4,000 minutes played with more than 400 field goals in the Illinois win in Champaign. Lighty made 516 career field goals and logged 4,582 career minutes during his 157-game career. Lighty’s classmate Jon Diebler had 473 made baskets (374 of which are 3s) while playing a total of 4,687 minutes in 144 games. He reached 400/4,000 with a triple and 36 minutes vs. Iowa Jan. 19.
Herb Williams and Jamar Butler also logged 4,000+ minutes at Ohio State. Williams made 834 career field goals over 114 games and 4,216 minutes. Butler connected on 420 FGs (242 3FGs) over 139 games and 4,213 minutes played.
Buford Joins Turner, Jackson, Lighty
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 was the only other Buckeye to do so with 1,785 career points, 552 career rebounds and 372 career assists from 1990-92. David Lighty joined the duo last season. He finished with 1,458 points, 577 rebounds and 374 assists to his credit. Only 22 players in Ohio State history have scored more than 1,000 points and collected 500+ rebounds. Lighty was added to the list with five rebounds vs. Iowa Jan. 19. William Buford currently has 1,686 points, 552 rebounds and 319 assists. He handed out four assists vs. Miami (Ohio) to join the quartet.
Double Digit 3s
Ohio State has made 10 or more 3-pointers in a game 79 times since the shot was instituted for the 1986-87 season. The Buckeyes are 68-11 in those games after knocking down 10-of-20 treys vs. Northwestern Dec. 28. Opponents have made double-digit 3s 91 times and are 36-55 in those games vs. the Buckeyes. Matta’s Ohio State teams are 53-9 when making 10 or more 3s in a game. Opponents are 8-29 against Matta-coached teams when making 10 or more treys.
Buford on Preseason List for 2012 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award
Senior William Buford follows David Lighty (2011) as a candidate for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in 2012. Lighty was among the Top 10 finalists a year ago. Buford is one of 30 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 finalists, 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 latest (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.
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 have garnered national attention this season there is more to come in the always rugged Big Ten slate of 18 regular-season contests. Ohio State faced Florida (W 81-74, 11/15/11) and Duke (W 85-63, 11/29/11) at Value City Arena with key non-league games at Kansas (L 78-67, 12/10/11) and South Carolina (W 74-66, 12/17/11). 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 Working on 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 has 1,686 career points over 123 career games (13.7 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. 8 spot on the Ohio State all-time scoring list.
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.
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.
