Buckeyes Host Walsh in Exhibition Game Sunday – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 6, 2014
| Thad Matta begins his 11th season in Columbus and 15th as a head coach in 2014-15. |
Ohio State Notes | Walsh University Notes | 2014-15 Schedule
Preview: Coach Matta | Preview: Shannon Scott & Sam Thompson
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No. 20 Ohio State Buckeyes (0-0, 0-0) vs. Walsh University
| Date: | Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014 |
| Site: | Value City Arena (19,049) |
| Game Time: | 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Television: | BTNPlus |
| Talent: | Marc Finch (Play-By-Play) George Reece (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) |
Buckeyes Picked 3rd in Preseason Media Poll
Media covering Big Ten men’s basketball tabbed Thad Matta’s Buckeyes in the No. 3 spot in the preseason poll, announced at the league’s annual media day Oct. 16 in Chicago. The Buckeyes followed No. 1 Wisconsin and No. 2 Michigan State. Entering his 11th season in Columbus, Matta has led the Buckeyes to five regular-season Big Ten titles (2006-07-10(t)-11-12(t)) and four postseason conference tournament crowns (2007-10-11-13).
Ohio State Opens Season No. 20 in Both AP and Coaches Polls
Nationally, coaches voting in the 2014-15 ESPN/Coaches Poll selected the Buckeyes in the No. 20 spot nationally in the preseason rankings, released Oct. 17. Ohio State has been a mainstay in the national rankings under Thad Matta. The Buckeyes, also ranked No. 20 in the preseason Associated Press preseason poll (Oct. 31) are 201-46 (.813) when carrying a Top 25 ranking into competition during the Thad Matta era.
Several 2014-15 Foes Tabbed Among Top 25
Ohio State is scheduled to face five teams ranked among the Top 25 in the preseason Associated Press Poll. Three of those teams are ranked among the Top 10. No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 6 North Carolina and No. 8 Louisville join No. 18 Michigan State and No. 24 Michigan on the Ohio State schedule. Only Michigan takes on the Buckeyes twice during the regular season. Iowa, Minnesota and Maryland are receiving votes for Top 25 consideration. The Buckeyes are rated No. 20 in the preseason polls.
Matta Chasing Career, Ohio State History
Thad Matta has made a habit of achieving records and milestones over his coaching career, which spans 14 years heading into the 2014-15 season. After a season a Butler, three at Xavier and the last 10 in Columbus, Matta is approaching 500 career games as a head coach. His 500th will be against Morehead State Dec. 13 in Columbus (1 p.m./BTN).
As an Ohio State head coach, the 13th in the history of the program, Matta is closing in on the all-time wins record currently held by Fred Taylor with 297 career wins over 18 seasons from 1959-1976. Matta needs 23 wins added to his Ohio State career record of 275-83 to claim the career wins record at Ohio State. Matta teams have never failed to win at least 20 games. His Ohio State teams average 27.5 victories over his 10 years in Columbus.
Buckeyes in the Bahamas
Ohio State practiced 10 times in advance of it’s trip to the Bahamas last summer where the Buckeyes played in a pair of games vs. local teams. Ohio State won both contests, an 88-66 win vs. the Bahamas All-Stars Aug. 7 and a 115-63 victory vs. the Providence Storm Aug. 8. Freshman Keita Bates-Diop led the Buckeyes in scoring with 34 points over the two games (17 ppg.). Senior Sam Thompson added 14.0 ppg. while sophomore Marc Loving chipped in 12.0 ppg. Bates-Diop and senior Trey McDonald each averaged a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game.
Experience and Youth
The 2014-15 Ohio State roster is composed of extremes at either end of the eligibility spectrum with six student-athletes who have reached or surpassed his senior season and five who will be playing in their first collegiate basketball season. Four Buckeyes have been with the program their entire careers. They are seniors Shannon Scott, Sam Thompson, Amir Williams and Trey McDonald. Classmate Jake Lorbach is in his third year after joining the team as a walk-on at the start of the 2012-13 season. Anthony Lee also is in his final year of eligibility after earning a degree from Temple University in 2014. As a graduate transfer, he will have one year of eligibility at Ohio State while taking graduate school classes. Four true freshmen joined the program for this season. They are David Bell, D’Angelo Russell, Jae’Sean Tate and Keita Bates-Diop. A fifth rookie, as far as eligibility goes, is Kam Williams, who began his Ohio State career a season ago but elected to redshirt, giving him four years of eligibility starting this season. Marc Loving is the lone remaining player on the Ohio State roster who is neither a senior nor freshman. He is a sophomore and currently the only player not listed as either a senior, graduate or freshman.
For more on the Buckeyes click on the Ohio State Notes link above.
