Regular Season Ends with Senior Day vs. Wisconsin Sunday – Ohio State Buckeyes

March 6, 2015

Shannon Scott will end career as one of Ohio State’s all-time leaders in both assists and steals.

No. 23 Ohio State Buckeyes (21-8, 10-6) vs. No. 6 the Wisconsin Badgers (27-3, 15-2)

Date:	March 8th, 2015
Site:	Value City Arena (18,809)
Game Time:	4:36 p.m. ET
Television:	CBS
Talent:	Jim Nantz (Play-By-Play) Bill Raftery (Expert Analysis) Tracy Wolfson (Sideline)
Radio:	OSU-IMG Sports Network (56 stations)
Satellite Radio:	Sirius 84/XM 84
Local Radio:	WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent:	Paul Keels (play-by-play) Ron Stokes (expert analysis)

Matta Chasing Career, Ohio State History
Thad Matta has made a habit of achieving records and milestones over his coaching career, which spans 15 years. After a season at Butler, three at Xavier and the last 11 in Columbus, Matta coached his 500th career game as a head coach Dec. 13 vs. Morehead State. As an Ohio State head coach, the 13th in the history of the program, Matta tied the all-time wins record, currently held by Fred Taylor with 297 career wins over 18 seasons from 1959-1976, with a 77-67 win at Penn State March 4, 2015. Matta needs one win added to his Ohio State career record of 297-91 to claim the career wins record outright at Ohio State. One win also would give him 400 victories for his career (399-122). Matta teams have never failed to win at least 20 games. His Ohio State teams have averaged 27.0 victories over his 11 full years in Columbus.

Matta’s Career Milestone Games
100th Game 11/25/03 L at Ball State, 63-75, 3rd year at Xavier
200th Game 11/28/05 W vs. Virginia Tech, 69-58, 2nd year at OSU
300th Game 2/28/09 L at Purdue, 50-75, 5th year at OSU
400th Game 1/21/12 W at Nebraska, 79-45, 8th year at OSU
500th Game 12/13/14 W vs. Morehead St., 87-71, 11th year at OSU
Win 297 3/4/15 at Penn State (77-67), tied Fred Taylor for OSU
career wins record

100 Game Rcd. 79-21 (.790)
200 Game Rcd. 151-49 (.755) 2nd 100 gms. 72-28 (.720)
300 Game Rcd. 225-75 (.750) 3rd 100 gms. 74-26 (.740)
400 Game Rcd. 309-91 (.773) 4th 100 gms. 84-16 (.840)
500 Game Rcd. 385-115 (.770) 5th 100 gms. 76-24 (.760)
Career Record 399-122 (.766) 6th 100 gms. 14-7 (.667)

100th Win, 80-70 vs. Louisville (3/18/04),
TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, Fla
200th Win, 65-47 at Northwestern (2/13/2008), Welsh Ryan Arena
300th Win, 64(2)-35 vs. Texas-Pan American (12/3/2012),
Value City Arena

Ohio State Career Coaching Records (10 or more years)
Thad Matta 2005- 11 297-91 (.765)
Fred Taylor 1959-76 18 297-158 (.653)
Harold G. Olsen 1923-46 24 259-197 (.568)
Eldon Miller 1977-86 10 174-120 (.592)

Matta Continues to Build Impressive
Ohio State Résumé
Thad Matta has accomplished a remarkable list of accomplishments in 11 years as head coach of the Buckeyes. Matta’s teams have never failed to win 20 games, a record streak (11 seasons) in Ohio State history. In fact, Matta has never failed to reach the 20-win plateau in 15 years as a head coach. Ohio State (22-8) reached 20 wins in 2014-15 with a win at home over Nebraska (2/26/15). Ohio State has reached 30 or more wins three times, all with Matta at the helm. Back-to-back seasons with 30 wins in 2010-11 (34) and 2011-12 (31) only trail the 35 wins recorded in 2006-07, the Ohio State record for single-season victories. In addition, Matta has won five Big Ten regular-season titles, including three of the last five (2010-12), four Big Ten postseason tournament crowns in seven title game opportunities, eight NCAA tournament appearances, including four-consecutive (2010-13) runs to the “Sweet 16,” a pair of Final Four trips (2007, 2012) and a title game appearance in 2007. Throw in a National Invitation Tournament title in 2008 and Matta has guided the Buckeyes to postseason play in nine-consecutive attempts and in every year in which Ohio State was eligible.

Matta Year-by-Year
Year Record Big Ten/Finish Postseason
2004-05 20-12 8-8/6th
2005-06 26-6 12-4/1st NCAA Rd. 2
2006-07 35-4 15-1/1st NCAA Title Game
2007-08 24-13 10-8/5th NIT Championship
2008-09 22-11 10-8/4th-T NCAA Rd. 1
2009-10 29-8 14-4/1st-T NCAA Sweet 16
2010-11 34-3 16-2/1st NCAA Sweet 16
2011-12 31-8 13-5/1st-T NCAA Final Four
2012-13 29-8 13-5/2nd-T NCAA Elite Eight
2013-14 25-10 10-8/5th NCAA Rd. 2
2014-15 22-8 11-6

Seniors Could Post Lofty Wins Total
The Ohio State four-year senior class of Shannon Scott, Sam Thompson, Amir Williams and Trey McDonald have experienced great success over their careers. The group owns two Big Ten regular-season titles, two Big Ten Tournament title game appearances with one Big Ten Tournament title (2013), two NCAA “Sweet 16” appearances, two “Elite Eights” and one trip to the Final Four (2012). The four have a chance to become one of the Top 5 senior classes in terms of wins in Ohio State history.

Most Career Wins by Four-Year Class
rk. wins Four-Year Seniors Yr.-by-Yr. Wins
1. 129 David Lighty (2007-2011) 35,24,7,29,34
2. 123 No 4-year seniors (2010-13) 29,34,31,29
3. 119 Aaron Craft, Lenzelle Smith Jr. (2011-14) 34,31,29,25
4. 116 William Buford (2009-12) 22,29,34,31
5. 110 Danny Peters, Mark Titus (2007-10) 35,24,22,29
6. 107 Shannon Scott, Sam Thompson, 31,29,25,22
Amir Williams, Trey McDonald

Buckeye Bullets

l Thad Matta has put together a stellar record in the month of March over his career. He is No. 2 among active coaches with a 58-16 record in March over his 15-year career. At Ohio State, Matta is 13-0 in Columbus during the third month of the calendar year.

March in Columbus during the Matta Era.
Date Opp. Score(AP) Margin
3/6/05 Illinois W 65-64(1) +1
3/5/06 Purdue W 76(9)-57 +19
3/4/08 Purdue W 80-77(15) +3
3/9/08 Michigan St. W 63-54(17) +9
3/18/08 UNC Asheville W 84-66 +18
3/24/08 California W 73-56 +17
3/26/08 Dayton W 74-63 +11
3/8/09 Northwestern W 52-47 +5
3/2/10 Illinois W 73(6)-57 +16
3/6/11 Wisconsin W 93(1)-65(10) +28
3/10/13 Illinois W 68(14)-55 +13
3/9/14 Michigan St. W 69-67(22) +2
3/1/15 Purdue W 65-61 +4

Ohio State freshman D’Angelo Russell has been named (March 4) one of 10 semifinalists for the 2015 Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year, presented by AT&T. Four finalists will be named March 22 with the winner named April 5.
Russell has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2015 Integris Wayman Tisdale Award, presented to the National Freshman Player of the Year, the USBWA announced March 1. The association will announce the winner of the award March 16.
Russell also has been selected as a finalist by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association as one of 14 outstanding players for the 2015 Oscar Robertson Trophy, given annually the nation’s top player.
Rookie Jae’Sean Tate set a career high with 22 points vs. Nebraska Feb. 26. He now has three 20-point games to his credit, all in Big Ten Conference play. In those games at Indiana (9-10 shooting/20 pts.), at Rutgers (8-11/20 pts.) and vs. Nebraska at home (8-9/22 pts.), he made a combined 25-of-30 field goals (.833).
Since entering the starting lineup 11 games ago at Northwestern, Tate has averaged 12.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He has made 57-92 field goal attempts (.620), blocked five shots and recorded eight steals in 27.6 minutes per game.
Ohio State is 52-44 in Big Ten road games since Thad Matta took over the program at the start of the 2004-05 campaign. Only Wisconsin (54-41) has been more successful away from home in the last 11 years. Michigan State is No. 3 at 50-45.
The Big Ten announced the league’s 2016 conference schedule of opponents Feb. 19. Next year, Ohio State will play Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern and Rutgers both home and away. The Buckeyes will travel only to Indiana, Nebraska, Purdue and Wisconsin. Single home games will be against Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Penn State. Dates and times for these games have not been determined.
Jae’Sean Tate currently holds the No. 4 spot among freshmen in Ohio State history in season field goal shooting percentage at 59.6 pct. (109-183). His father, Jermaine Tate, is No. 5 at 56.9 pct. (115-202). Jermaine played his freshman season at Ohio State in 1996.
Thad Matta has led the Buckeyes to 22 wins to date … all 15 of his previous teams have reached at least 20 wins, which includes one year at Butler, three at Xavier and all 11 at Ohio State.
Freshman D’Angelo Russell has scored 579 (19.3 ppg.) points this season in 30 games … he is the 32nd Buckeye all-time to reach 500 points in a single season … The last freshman to score 500+ in a season at Ohio State was Jared Sullinger in 2011 with 635 points (17.2 ppg.) … Matta teams have had at least one 500-point scorer in 10 of 11 seasons prior to this year.
Senior Shannon Scott has 204 career steals, tied for the No. 2 spot with Jay Burson (1986-89) in Ohio State history … his 138 career game appearances rank No. 7t all-time. With 13 points vs. Nebraska Feb. 26, he reached 700 for his career (721).
Scott has 178 assists this season, good for the No. 6 spot in single-season history at Ohio State. The No. 5 spot is held by Aaron Craft with 181 in 2012.
Senior Sam Thompson has scored 957 career points over 141 career games … his games played total ranks No. 5 all-time … Jon Diebler is at No. 4 (144 gp/2008-11).
As Ohio State head coach, Matta recorded his 153rd win vs. Big Ten opponents with the 77-67 win at Penn State Wednesday … he has 157 career wins vs. Big Ten foes over his 15-year head coaching career.
Ohio State’s four-year senior class (Shannon Scott, Sam Thompson, Amir Williams, Trey McDonald) has 107 career wins and has recorded at least 20 wins each year (31, 29, 25, 22). The Buckeyes are 22-8 this season.

Matta’s Senior Day Record
Thad Matta has finished off the home season with a win in nine of 10 seasons in Columbus. Four times the Buckeyes defeated ranked teams, two of those were No. 1 at the time. The finale this season marks the fourth time Ohio State ended the home campaign against Wisconsin with Matta as the Buckeyes’ head coach. When the Badgers visit Ohio State for Senior Day in Columbus in the Matta era, The Buckeyes are 2-1. The first meeting was the classic No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle Feb. 25, 2007. Ohio State, No. 2 in the Associated Press poll that week, downed No. 1 Wisconsin 49-48. Ohio State was the No. 1 team in the next meeting March 6, 2011 when Ohio State made 14 of 15 3-pointers on its way to a 93-65 win over the No. 10 Badgers. No. 16 Wisconsin earned the 63-60 win over No. 8 Ohio State Feb. 26, 2012 in the most recent clash. In the final regular season game of the year (H and A), Matta is 10-0 as head coach of the Buckeyes.
Date W/L Final Score
3/6/2005 W OSU 65, No. 1 Illinois 64
3/5/2006 W No. 9 OSU 79, Purdue 57
2/25/2007 W No. 2 OSU 49, No. 1 Wisconsin 48
3/9/2008 W OSU 63, No. 17 Michigan State 54
3/8/2009 W OSU 52, Northwestern 47
3/2/2010 W No. 6 OSU 73, Illinois 57
3/6/2011 W No. 1 OSU 93, No. 10 Wisconsin 65
2/26/2012 L No. 16 Wisconsin 63, No. 8 OSU 60
3/10/2013 W No. 14 OSU 68, Illinois 55
3/9/2014 W OSU 69, No. 22 Michigan State 67

Noting the Penn State Game
? Ohio State leads the all-time series with Penn State, 31-14.
? The Buckeyes are 12-8 in State College.
? As a ranked team, Ohio State is 18-4 in the series and 14-2 under Matta.
? The Buckeyes are 2-0 this season vs. Penn State. Ohio State defeated the Nittany Lions, 75-55, in Columbus Feb. 12.
? Three players scored in double figures for the Buckeyes: D’Angelo Russell (28), Jae’Sean Tate (13) and Shannon Scott (13).
? Ohio State is 3-8 when trailing at the half. After a 9-1 run to close the first half, the Buckeyes trailed the Nittany Lions, 30-29.
? The Buckeyes responded to the deficit, outscoring the Nittany Lions, 48-37, in the second half.
? Ohio State scored 11 points off 11 Penn State turnovers.
? Ohio State tallied a 13-10 edge in fast break points.
? The Buckeyes improve to 18-1 when outrebounding their opponent this season. The Buckeyes edged the Nittany Lions, 37-31, on the boards.
? The Buckeyes own an overall record of 782-691 against current league members.
? Thad Matta is 297-91 during his career at Ohio State and 399-122 overall as a head coach. With the victory vs. Penn State, Matta ties Fred Taylor’s all-time career wins record as head coach of the Buckeyes (297). In the game Sunday vs. Wisconsin, Matta looks to claim the Ohio State coaching record as well as record his 400th career win.
? Matta is 157-68 overall vs. Big Ten opponents, including a mark of 153-65 while coaching the Buckeyes.
? Matta is 58-16 in March.
? Ohio State is 52-44 in Big Ten road contests under Matta.
? With Matta at the helm, Ohio State is 19-2 vs. Penn State and 8-1 on the road.
? D’Angelo Russell posted 28 points with 19 in the second half. He has scored more than 20 points 14 times this season.
? Russell went 5-8 from three-point range, hitting five or more threes for the fourth time this season.
? Russell dished three assists vs. the Nittany Lions. He has 156 helpers this season, ranking third all-time for an Ohio State freshman.
? Russell went 7-11 from the free-throw line, passing Mike Conley Jr. for fourth in the freshman record book for free throws made (102).
? Russell earned three steals, passing Evan Turner for No. 5 all-time among Ohio State freshman (49).
? Shannon Scott scored 13 points, recording double figures for the third time in five games, while posting seven rebounds and seven assists.
? Scott was 6-6 from the free-throw line.
? With his seven assists vs. Penn State, Scott remains fourth in Ohio State history with 499 career assists. He needs 18 to pass Kelvin Ransey for third with 516 assists.
? Scott has totaled 178 assists in his senior campaign, ranking sixth in Ohio State history for a single season.
? Jae’Sean Tate contributed 13 points, shooting 6-10 from the floor. He has scored in double figures three of the last five games.
? Tate collected five rebounds for the Buckeyes.
? Sam Thompson scored eight points, totaling 958 career points.
? Thompson added two steals, two rebounds, one steal and one assist.
? Marc Loving led the Buckeyes with a career-high nine rebounds.

For more on the Buckeyes click on the Ohio State Notes link above.

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