Minnesota Begins Four of Five Stretch on the Road for Buckeyes – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 5, 2015
| Marc Loving leads the Big Ten in 3-point shooting percentage (.556). |
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No. 22/20 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-3, 1-1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-4, 0-2)
| Date: | Jan. 6, 2015 |
| Site: | Williams Arena (14,635) |
| Game Time: | 9:05 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 93/XM 195 |
| Local Radio: | WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460 |
| Radio Talent: | Paul Keels (play-by-play) Ron Stokes (expert analysis) |
Scouting the Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota started the Big Ten Conference season on an eight-game win streak and with an 11-2 record in non-conference play. The Golden Gophers then fell twice in road games at Purdue (72-68) and Maryland (70-58) to enter their home league opener vs. Ohio State at 11-4. Minnesota has four players averaging 10 or more points after 15 games. Junior guard Carlos Morris is the team leader with 13.1 points per game. He is followed by graduate forward Maurice Walker (12.5 ppg.), senior guard Andre Hollins (12.5 ppg.) and freshman guard Nate Mason (10.2 ppg.). Walker’s 5.0 rebounds per game leads the team.
The Ohio State vs. Minnesota Series
Ohio State leads the overall series with the Gophers 81-56 with Minnesota leading 38-30 in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers are 18-50 in Columbus and, in one neutral site meeting, Ohio State owns the win. Thad Matta’s Buckeyes are 11-6 vs. Minnesota since the 2004-05 season. In the Matta era, Ohio State is 7-1 in games played at Value City Arena, 3-5 at Minnesota and 1-0 in neutral site games. Sam Thompson, Shannon Scott and Amir Williams each have faced Minnesota four times in their careers. Thompson, a Chicago native, averages 10.3 points per game vs. the Gophers with Williams chipping in 4.3 ppg. and Scott 5.5 ppg. Ohio State has won seven of the last eight games and two of three in Minneapolis. Ohio State and Minnesota split the two meetings a year ago. The Buckeyes fell 63-53 in Minneapolis Jan. 16 then won in Columbus Feb. 22, 64-46. As a ranked team, Ohio State is 27-4 vs. the Gophers and has won 14 of the last 16 meetings when carrying an Associated Press ranking into the game vs. Minnesota. Matta teams are 9-2 when ranked among the AP Top 25 vs. the Gophers. Ohio State, the No. 4 team nationally in field goal shooting percentage, has connected on better than 50 percent of its shots vs. the Gophers four times in the Matta era. Matta teams are 4-0 vs. in those games. Minnesota has made half its shots three times in the last 11 years and are 1-2 in those games.
Ohio State vs. The Big Ten
Ohio State is in its 103rd season as a member of the Big Ten Conference in 2014-15. The Buckeyes own an overall record of 772-686 against current league members. Thad Matta, in 15 seasons as a head coach, owns an overall record of 147-63 vs. league members, including a mark of 143-60 while coaching the Buckeyes.
Loving Among Big Ten Leaders at Line, From 3
Sophomore Marc Loving is one of the top shooters in the country, in the Big Ten and certainly on Ohio State’s 2014-15 roster. The Toledo, Ohio, native is connecting on 86 percent of his foul shots to lead Ohio State and rate No. 6 in the Big Ten. From 3-point range, Loving is the conference and Ohio State leader, making 56 percent from distance (30-54). He ranks No. 4 nationally in 3-point field goal percentage.
Scott, Russell One of Top Combinations
Senior Shannon Scott and freshman D’Angelo Russell lead the country in combined assists per game with an average of 12.5 helpers a contest. Scott (7.4 apg.) is No. 5 nationally. Russell (5.1 apg.) rates No. 45t. The next closest is the duo from Providence, Kris Dunn with 7.4 apg. and Kyron Cartwright with 3.5 apg, for a combined 10.7 apg.
Buckeyes in the B1G
Shannon Scott is leading the Big Ten Conference in assists with a total of 111 and an average of 7.4 apg. He is No. 2 in steals with an average of 2.5 a game (37 total). Marc Loving is the league’s top shooter from 3-point range (30-54/.556) and rates No. 6 in free throw shooting (.863/44-51). As a team, Ohio State leads in scoring margin (+23.9) and is No. 1 in field goal percentage (.523). The Buckeyes are No. 2 in scoring offense (83.4 ppg.), assist/turnover ratio (+1.5), steals (9.1 spg.), 3-point field goal percentage (.407) and turnover margin (+6.0).
Russell Among Nation’s Best Freshmen
Among true freshmen nationally, Ohio State rookie D’Angelo Russell is the third-leading scorer in the country with an average of 17.7 points a game over his first 15 appearances in Columbus. Russell has been credited with 77 assists, the most among the Top 25 rookie offensive leaders nationally. He is second among all rookies in combined points+assists+rebounds (PAR) with an average of 27.3.
Buckeyes In Top 5 nationally in Field Goal Percentage, Scott 5th in assists per game
Senior Shannon Scott is No. 5 in the nation in assists per game with 7.4 a contest and the Buckeyes are No. 4 nationally in field goal shooting percentage at 52 percent scoring accuracy. Ohio State has made 461-of-882 field goal attempts (.523). The Buckeyes are No. 3 the nation in field goals made with 461. The Buckeyes’ 41 percent accuracy from 3-point range rates No. 9 in the country. The Buckeyes also are No. 3 nationally in assists with 264, and total points with 1,251. Ohio State’s 83.4 points per game ranks No. 10 nationally.
Noting the Illinois Game
? Illinois leads the overall series with the Buckeyes 101-69 with Ohio State leading 44-40 in Columbus.
? Ohio State has won 10 of the last 12 games vs. Illinois and the last six in Columbus.
? As a ranked team, Ohio State is 26-11 vs. the Illini and has won 16 of the last 18 meetings when ranked.
? Trailing 44-41 at 16:34 of the second half, Ohio State seized control of the game with a 21-2 run over 6:33 of play. Ilinois was held without a field goal during the run.
? Three players scored in double figures for the Buckeyes: D’Angelo Russell (22), Marc Loving (13) and Sam Thompson (13).
? The Buckeyes earned their first win of the season when trailing at the half (0-3).
? Ohio State outscored Illinois in the paint 34-14.
? Ohio State shot 60 percent for the game (27-45). The last time Ohio State 60 percent in a Big Ten game: March 9, 2012 against Purdue in an 88-71 win in the Big Ten tournament.
? Ohio State has shot better than 60 percent in six games this season and better than 50 percent in 10 games. The team is undefeated when shooting better than 50 percent for the game.
? Since the 2009-10 season, Ohio State holds a 100-9 (.917) record at home, the most home wins in the country.
? D’Angelo Russell and Shannon Scott combined for nine assists vs. the Illini. The duo averages 12.5 helpers per game this season.
? Matta is 287-86 during his career at Ohio State and 389-117 overall as a head coach.
? Matta is 147-63 vs. Big Ten opponents at Ohio State.
? Matta is 13-5 vs. former assistant coaches, 4-1 against Iliinois coach John Groce.
? Matta teams are 15-5 vs. Illinois and 9-1 in games against the Illini played at Value City Arena.
? With Matta at the helm, the Buckeyes are 12-2 when ranked among the AP Top 25 vs. the Illini.
? Matta is 161-4 in Columbus vs. unranked opponents and Ohio State is 57-3 in Columbus vs. unranked Big Ten opponents.
? Russell tallied 22 points against Illinois. He has scored in double figures in 13-consecutive games this season.
? Russell totaled four assists and leads the Top 25 true freshman nationally with 77 assists this season.
? For the season, Russell is recording a PAR (points+assists+rebounds/game) of 27.3.
? With five helpers vs. Illinois, Scott ranks fifth in Ohio State history with 432 assists. He needs 44 to pass Curtis Wilson (475) for No. 4.
? Scott recorded three steals vs. Illinois. He remains fourth on Ohio State’s all-time steals list with 189 behind David Lighty with 191 thefts. Scott needs 11 more assists this season to become the third Buckeye all-time to reach 200 steals in a career.
? Scott scored nine points, passing 600 for his career (603).
? Marc Loving scored 13 points. He has scored in double figures in 12 games this season.
? Loving tied a career high with eight rebounds.
? Sam Thompson scored 13 points. He has scored in double figures in 10 games this season.
For more on the Buckeyes click on the Ohio State Notes link above.
