Buckeyes Travel to State College for Lone Meeting vs. Penn State
2/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 27, 2017
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Ohio State Buckeyes (16-13, 6-10) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (14-15, 6-10)
| Date: | Feb. 28, 2017 |
| Site: | Bryce Jordan Center (15,261) |
| Game Time: | 8:36 p.m. |
| Television: | BTN |
| Talent: | Wayne Randazzo (Play-By-Play) Bob Wenzel (Expert Analysis) |
| Radio: | OSU-IMG Sports Network (60 stations) |
| Satellite Radio: | Sirius 134/XM 195 |
| Local Radio: | WBNS-FM 97.1, AM-1460 |
| Radio Talent: | Paul Keels (Play-By-Play) Ron Stokes (Expert Analysis) |
Starting Five, Plus One
• Thad Matta became Ohio State’s record holder for most games coached in a career vs. Wisconsin Feb. 23, 2016. His teams have played in 457 games to date (336-121). Matta tied Fred Taylor (455) for the No. 2 spot all time in the game vs. Michigan State Feb. 14 and Harold G. Olsen’s 456 games (259-197) vs. Nebraska (Feb. 18). Taylor was on the sidelines from 1959-76 (297-158).
• In Thad Matta’s 13 seasons at Ohio State, the Buckeyes have been swept in a regular season home-and-home series with a Big Ten foe just 10 times. Ohio State has played 86 home-and-home series in Matta’s tenure to date. The Buckeyes have swept 35 and split 41 series with Big Ten foes in Matta’s tenure. When the Buckeyes fall in the first game of a home-and-home Big Ten regular-season series, Ohio State is 25-9 in the second game of the series under Matta.
• Thad Matta is among the final four coaches who advanced to the fourth round of the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge. Fourth-round voting is open now and runs through March 11. Vote daily for Coach Matta and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio at www.ESPN.com/Infiniti.
• Senior Marc Loving became the 53rd Buckeye all-time to reach 1,000 career points. He is the 12th player in the Thad Matta era to reach 1,000. His point total of 1,307 is 30th on the all-time Ohio State scoring list. No. 29 is Jamar Butler with 1,313. Against Maryland Feb. 11, junior Jae’Sean Tate (1,044) became the 54th Buckeye to reach 1,000 career points and the 13th in the Matta era. He passed Jason Singleton (1,022) and Bill Andreas (1,023) on the Ohio State all-time scoring list with 14 points vs. Nebraska to move into the No. 49 spot all time. Jamie Skelton and Ken Johnson (1,055) are tied for the No. 47 spot behind No. 46 Carter Scott (1,073).
• Thad Matta is No. 13 all-time in career Big Ten regular-season victories … Matta owns 149 career league triumphs. He passed Harold “Bud” Foster (WIS 1935-59) who won 143 league encounters with the win over Michigan State (72-67/Jan. 15 in Columbus). The No. 12 spot is held by former Ohio State coach Harold Olsen (1923-46). He won 154 league games over his tenure.
• Marc Loving became Ohio State’s 27th player with 1,000 career points and 500 career boards with five rebounds against Wisconsin Feb. 23. Jae’Sean Tate became the 26th to accomplish the feat with 20 points at Maryland Feb. 11. He has 1,044 points (11.3 ppg.) and 538 caroms (5.8 rpg.) over 92 career appearances…Tate reached 500 rebounds with five at Michigan Feb. 4…Loving has 1,307 career points (10.0 ppg.) and 501 career rebounds (3.8 rpg.).
Off the Bench
• Since Thad Matta took over at Ohio State for the 2004-05 season, a Buckeye has recorded 15 or more rebounds in a game 24 times, the most of any Big Ten team. Junior Trevor Thompson has four of those efforts this year with a career-high 17 rebounds vs. Connecticut Dec. 10, 2016 and 15 rebounds three times (vs. Youngstown State, at Minnesota and against Northwestern). Jared Sullinger recorded eight games with 15 or more rebounds, Greg Oden recorded five, Evan Turner and Terence Dials each had two. Othello Hunter, Amir Williams and LaQuinton Ross each posted one game with 15 or more rebounds. Ohio State is 20-4 when a player records at least 15 rebounds in Matta era.
• Junior Keita Bates-Diop had season-ending surgery Jan. 25 on his left leg to repair a stress fracture he has been battling since missing about two months of summer workouts with the injury. Bates-Diop played in nine games this season around illness, a right ankle sprain sustained in the Providence game (Nov. 17) and lingering pain from the left-leg stress fracture. He averaged 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds this season. Ohio State will apply for a medical redshirt season on Bates-Diop’s behalf following the 2016-17 campaign. If granted, he will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
• Ohio State won at least 10 Big Ten regular season games (11-7 in 2016) 11 seasons (2006-2016), the longest streak in school history and tied for the longest streak among Big Ten schools over Thad Matta’s 13-year tenure with the Buckeyes. Wisconsin (11-4 in conference play this year) has a streak of 11-consecutive seasons with 10+ victories in regular season league play.
• Since Thad Matta took over the Ohio State program the Buckeyes have competed against 127 opponents ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, the third-most games against ranked foes in all of NCAA Division I men’s basketball. The Buckeyes are 55-72 in those games with a winning percentage of .433. That win total ranks No. 11 nationally for victories vs. ranked opponents since 2004-05.
• The Buckeyes are 6-6 on the year in games decided by five or fewer points. Wins have come against Michigan (70-66), Providence (72-67), Connecticut (64-60), UNC Asheville (79-77), Michigan State (72-67), and at Nebraska (67-66). Losses have been to Virginia (63-61) on the road, Florida Atlantic (79-77), at Illinois (75-70), Purdue (76-75), Northwestern (74-72) and Nebraska (58-57)
• Jae’Sean Tate is the only Power 5 Conference player 6-4 or shorter averaging more than six rebounds per game. Overall, Tate is 19th nationally among players 6-4 or shorter with 6.3 rebounds per game … he also is eighth nationally among players 6-4 or shorter with 2.0 offensive rebounds per game.
• Trevor Thompson has the second-most double-doubles (10) nationally among players averaging fewer than 24 minutes per game. In games where Thompson comes off the bench, he is averaging the second-most rebounds per game nationally at 8.5.
Buckeyes Balanced on Offense
Through 29 games, Ohio State has four players contributing 10 or more points a game. Junior Jae’Sean Tate leads the way with 14.1 ppg. He is followed by senior Marc Loving (12.5), sophomore JaQuan Lyle (11.2) and junior Trevor Thompson (10.4). Junior Kam Williams (9.9) is close behind. Junior Keita Bates-Diop, who is out for the remainder of the season (stress fracture, left leg) averaged 9.7 ppg. in nine appearances this year. Thompson’s 9.4 rebounds a game leads the team.
Thompson’s Effort on the Glass vs. UConn One of Best in Matta Era
Since Thad Matta took over at Ohio State in 2004-05, there have been eight games in which a Buckeye recorded 17 or more rebounds. Trevor Thompson recorded a career-best with 17 boards vs. Connecticut. He also tallied a career-high 17 points in the 64-60 win. Both Greg Oden (vs. Purdue, 3/10/07) and Jared Sullinger (vs. South Carolina Dec. 18, 2010) recorded 19-rebound games. Sullinger also had a pair of games with 18 boards (both vs. Northwestern 3/11/11, 2/29/12). Evan Turner recorded two games with 17 caroms (vs. Alcorn State 11/9/09; and James Madison 11/12/09). Turner’s effort vs. Alcorn State was part of triple-double in which he scored 14 points and handed out 10 assists. Terence Dials also grabbed 17 boards in a game vs. Illinois (12/12/06).
Ohio State vs. Penn State
Ohio State leads the all-time series with the Nittany Lions 33-14. Ohio State owns a 12-8 advantage in State College and a 17-4 record in Columbus. The teams have met six times on neutral courts with the Buckeyes owning a 4-2 edge in those games. Thad Matta teams are 21-2 overall vs. Penn State. Matta’s Ohio State teams are 8-1 at the Bryce Jordan Center and 9-1 in Value City Arena. Matta is 4-0 vs. Penn State in Big Ten Tournament play. Jae’Sean Tate averages 12.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in three career meetings vs. the Nittany Lions. JaQuan Lyle averages 14 points and 5.5 boards in two career meetings.
Scouting the Nittany Lions
The Buckeyes travel for the final time during the Big Ten regular season when Ohio State takes on Penn State Tuesday in State College. The Nittany Lions enter the game 14-15 overall and 6-9 in conference play. Freshman Tony Carr leads the team offensively with 12.9 points per game, Fellow rookie Lamar Stevens adds 12.5 ppg. Juniors Shep Garner (12.0) and Payton Banks (11.0) also contribure double-digit points. Mike Watkins, another PSU freshman, leads the team in rebounding with 8.1 a game.
Last Time vs. Penn State
Marc Loving scored 24 points, JaQuan Lyle added 22 and Ohio State used a late 7-0 run to hold off Penn State 79-75 at the Big Ten Tournament March 10, 2016 in Indianapolis. Shep Garner scored 25 points and Donovon Jack had 18 for the Nittany Lions. The Buckeyes looked like they would pull away after taking a 61-54 lead with 8:07 to go. But Garner capped a 13-5 run by making two free throws with 4:12 remaining to give Penn State a 67-66 lead. Ohio State retook control after Loving made 3 of 4 free throws to start the closing run and Lyle followed that with back-to-back baskets for a 73-67 lead. The Nittany Lions never had a chance to tie it or take the lead again.
Ohio State vs. The Big Ten
Ohio State is competing in its 105th season as a member of the Big Ten Conference in 2016-17. The Buckeyes own an overall record of 801-711 against current league members. Thad Matta, in 17 seasons as a head coach, owns an overall record of 176-88 vs. league members, including a mark of 172-85 while coaching the Buckeyes.
Matta Streak vs. Non-Conference Foes
Thad Matta has directed Ohio State to at least 10 wins during non-conference play in 12 of his 13 full seasons in Columbus. Matta is 164-36 vs. non-conference competition at Ohio State and 172-85 vs. Big Ten foes (regular season and Big Ten tournament games) for an overall record of 336-121. In 17 seasons as a head coach (1 at Butler, 3 at Xavier and 13 at Ohio State) Matta is 176-88 vs. the current roster of Big Ten teams. He has winning records vs. 10-of-13 league opponents: ILL (17-6), IND (12-10), IOWA (13-8), MICH (20-7), MINN (15-7), NW (19-2), PSU (21-2), PUR (18-9), NEB (10-2) and RUT (4-0). He is three games under .500 vs. Michigan State (12-16) and is two under vs. Wisconsin (13-14) and Maryland (2-5).
Matta Climbing All-Time Big Ten Wins Chart
Thad Matta has 149 career regular-season wins in Big Ten Conference play to rank No. 13 all-time in Big Ten history. Ohio State’s Harold Olsen (1923-46) holds down the No. 12 spots with 154 all-time league wins.
Noting the Wisconsin Game
• The Buckeyes lead the all-time series with Wisconsin 87-70.
• Ohio State is 54-23 against the Badgers in Value City Arena.
• The Buckeyes have split seven of eight home and home series against the Badgers under Thad Matta.
• The Buckeyes are 163-259 against ranked opponents all-time.
• Ohio State is 30-2 all-time when scoring 80+ points against Wisconsin.
• The Buckeyes are 3-0 this season when scoring 80+ points.
• Thad Matta is 17-0 against Big Ten coaches making their first appearance at Value City Arena.
• Ohio State is 14-2 on the season when leading at the half.
• The Buckeyes are 16-2 when leading with five minutes to play this season.
• Wisconsin shot 43.9 percent from the field in the contest.
• Ohio State has held 27 of its 29 opponents to under 50 percent shooting from the field this season.
• Ohio State is 622-270 contests in which a player records a double-double.
• Ohio State is shooting 107-130 (.823) from the free throw line in seven games against ranked opponents this season.
• The Buckeyes shot a season high 62.5 percent (10-16) from behind the arc in the contest.
• Ohio State is 5-0 this season when making 10+ 3-pointers.
• Buckeyes are 152-0 when holding a 20+ point lead at any point in the contest.
• This was the first Buckeyes win against a ranked opponent this season.
• Matta teams are 292-20 when building at least a 10 point lead in any game while coaching the Buckeyes.
• Matta teams have won at least one game vs. a ranked Big Ten opponents at Value City Arena each year during his 13-year tenure at Ohio State. OSU is 21-17 vs. ranked Big Ten teams in Columbus under Matta.
• In the Matta era:
• Ohio State is 10-1 when shooting 60 pct. or better from 3-point range (10-16/.625) vs. Wisconsin
• Ohio State is 58-5 when shooting 50 pct. or better from 3-point range (10-16/.625) vs. Wisconsin
• Ohio State is 66-3 when making 20+ foul shots (23-27) vs. Wisconsin
• Ohio State is 59-14 when making 80 percent or better at the foul line (23-27) vs. Wisconsin
• Ohio State is 52-27 when opponents make 10 or more 3-pointers in a game. Wisconsin was 13-30.
• Ohio State is 120-9 when opponents are credited with fewer than 20 defensive rebounds (UW 17)
• Ohio State is 118-12 when opponents are credited with fewer than 30 total rebounds (UW 25)
• Ohio State is 122-22 when opponents are called for 20 or more fouls (UW 23)
• Ohio State is 91-41 when opponents are credited with five or fewer steals (UW 4)
• The victory over Wisconsin marked Thad Matta’s 457th game as the coach of the Buckeyes moving him to first place in Ohio State history for games coached.
• Matta is 11-14 versus Wisconsin in his tenure at Ohio State.
• Matta coached teams are 313-17 when leading with five minutes left to play.
• Ohio State is 213-31 when outrebounding their opponent under Matta.
• Matta squads are 153-10 all-time when shooting 50+ percent from the field in a game.
• Ohio State is 25-9 in the second game of a home and home series after losing the first matchup under Matta.
• The Buckeyes have split 41 home and homes series out of 86 all-time with Matta at the helm.
• Jae’Sean Tate posted a double-double scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 boards in the contest.
• Tate has recorded double-doubles in back-to-back games bringing his season total to five, and his career total to 10.
• Tate has now scored in double figures in 27 of 29 games on the season.
• Marc Loving scored 12 points and grabbed five boards in the contest.
• Loving became the 27th player in Ohio State history to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds for his career.
• C.J. Jackson set season-highs with 18 points and four steals while adding four rebounds and four assists in the contest.
• This was Jackson’s second double figure scoring performance as a Buckeye and his second in the last four games.
For more on the Buckeyes click on the Ohio State Notes link above.
