Rutgers Travels to Columbus for Lone Meeting with Buckeyes
2/6/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 6, 2017
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Ohio State Buckeyes (14-10, 4-7) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (13-11, 2-9)
| Date: | Feb. 8, 2017 |
| Site: | Value City Arena (18,809) |
| Game Time: | 7:01 p.m. |
| Television: | BTN |
| Talent: | Cory Provus (Play-By-Play) Shon Morris (Expert Analysis) None (Sideline) |
| Radio: | OSU-IMG Sports Network (60 stations) |
| Satellite Radio: | Sirius 137/XM 195 |
| Local Radio: | WBNS-FM 97.1, AM-1460 |
| Radio Talent: | Paul Keels (Play-By-Play) Ron Stokes (Expert Analysis) |
Starting Five
• 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 nine times. Ohio State has played 82 home-and-home series in Matta’s tenure to date. The Buckeyes have swept 35 and split 38 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 24-8 in the second game of the series under Matta.
• Thad Matta sits fourth and has advanced to the second round of the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge. Second-round voting is open now and runs through Feb. 12. 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 career points as a Buckeye. His point total of 1,230 is 33rd on the all-time Ohio State scoring list. No. 32 is Ron Stokes with 1,240. No. 31 is Jared Sullinger with 1,282.
• Thad Matta is No. 13 all-time in career Big Ten regular-season victories … Matta owns 147 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.
• Jae’Sean Tate and Marc Loving are working on becoming Ohio State’s 26th/27th players with 1,000 career points and 500 career boards…Tate has 977 points (11.2 ppg.) and 502 caroms (5.8 rpg.) over 87 career appearances…Tate reached 900 points with 13 at Nebraska and 500 rebounds with five at Michigan Feb. 4…Loving has 1,230 career points (9.8 ppg.) and 484 career rebounds (3.8 rpg.)…Deshaun Thomas was the most recent Buckeye to join the 1,000/500 club in 2013…he finished with 1,630/560.
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 has won at least 10 Big Ten regular season games (11-7 in 2016) over the last 11 seasons, the longest streak in school history and the longest streak among Big Ten schools over Thad Matta’s 13-year tenure with the Buckeyes. Wisconsin (12-6 in conference play last year) has a streak of 10-consecutive seasons with 10+ victories in regular season league play.
• Since Thad Matta took over the Ohio State program the Buckeyes have competed against 125 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 54-71 in those games with a winning percentage of .432. That win total ranks No. 11 nationally for victories vs. ranked opponents since 2004-05.
• Matta is closing on the Ohio State record for most games coached in a career. His teams have played in 452 games to date (334-118). Harold G. Olsen (1923-46) coached in 456 games (259-197) and Fred Taylor was on the sidelines for 455 career games (297-158) from 1959-76.
• The Buckeyes are 6-5 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) and Northwestern (74-72).
• Jae’Sean Tate is one of two Power 5 Conference players 6-4 or shorter averaging more than six rebounds per game (Markelle Fultz of Washington is averaging 6.0). Overall, Tate is 18th nationally among players 6-4 or shorter with 6.2 rebounds per game … he also is tied for 16th nationally among players 6-4 or shorter with 1.8 offensive rebounds per game.
• Trevor Thompson has the second-most double-doubles (eight) nationally among players averaging fewer than 23 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 24 games, Ohio State has five players contributing 10 or more points a game. Junior Jae’Sean Tate leads the way with 14.2 ppg. He is followed by senior Marc Loving (11.9), sophomore JaQuan Lyle (11.8), junior Trevor Thompson (10.6) and junior Kam Williams (10.1). 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 9.3 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. Rutgers Series
Ohio State owns a 3-1 record vs. Rutgers. All three wins have come since the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten for the 2015 Big Ten basketball campaign. Two of the wins have come on the road. Rutgers’ lone game at Value City Arena occurred last season, a 94-68 win for the Buckeyes. The Scarlet Knights won the first meeting Dec. 30, 1978, 97-96, in the ECAC Holiday Tournament held at Madison Square Garden in New York. Ohio State has three players on the current roster averaging 10 or more points vs. Rutgers. Junior Jae’Sean Tate averages 18.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in three career meetings vs. the Scarlet Knights. He has connected on 24-32 field goals (.750). Junior Kam Williams contributes 12.3 points in the series. He has made 8-of-16 from 3-point range in the series. Sophomore JaQuan Lyle adds 10 points and 7.5 rebounds in two career meetings vs. RU. In Lyle’s first matchup vs. Rutgers Jan. 13, 2016 in Columbus, he recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. The effort marked the fifth triple-double in Ohio State history. Junior Keita Bates-Diop, who recently had season-ending leg surgery, averages 17.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in three previous outings vs. the Scarlet Knights.
Scouting the Scarlet Knights
Rutgers enters the game at Ohio State with an overall record of 13-11 and a 2-9 record in Big Ten play. Sophomore Corey Sanders leads the team with 13.0 points a game from his guard position. Junior forward Deshawn Freeman adds 11.5 points just ahead of junior guard Nigel Johnson’s 11.0 pig. Freeman is the team’s top rebounder with 8.5 boards a game.
Last Time vs. Rutgers
Keita Bates-Diop tied a career high with 24 points and had a career-high 14 rebounds as Ohio State defeated Rutgers, 79-69, Feb. 13, 2016 in Columbus. Jae’Sean Tate added 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting and 13 rebounds for the Buckeyes, marking the sixth time last season they had two players with double-doubles. Kam Williams added 19 for OSU. Corey Sanders had 23 points for the Scarlet Knights, who had lost 26 straight regular-season Big Ten games and 27 including the conference tournament. Mike Williams added 13 and D.J. Foreman had 10. Ohio State opened two 16-point leads, the second at 52-36. Rutgers scored nine straight to get within seven, but could get no closer the remainder of the game.
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 799-708 against current league members. Thad Matta, in 17 seasons as a head coach, owns an overall record of 174-85 vs. league members, including a mark of 170-82 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 170-82 vs. Big Ten foes (regular season and Big Ten tournament games) for an overall record of 334-118. In 17 seasons as a head coach (1 at Butler, 3 at Xavier and 13 at Ohio State) Matta is 174-85 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 (10-1) and RUT (3-0). He is four games under .500 vs. Michigan State (12-15) and is one under vs. Wisconsin (12-14) and Maryland (2-4).
Matta Climbing All-Time Big Ten Wins Chart
Thad Matta has 147 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 Michigan Game
• The Buckeyes lead all-time series with Michigan 96-76.
• Ohio State 37-46 against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
• Ohio State is 12-2 on the season when leading at the half.
• The Buckeyes are 14-2 when leading with five minutes to play this season.
• Michigan shot 37.3 percent from the field in the contest.
• Ohio State has held 22 of its 24 opponents to under 50 percent shooting from the field this season.
• The Buckeyes shot a season-high 85.7 percent (24-28) from the free throw line in the contest.
• Ohio State outrebounded Michigan 42-24 in the contest.
• The Buckeyes scored 19 second chance points.
• Ohio State outscored Michigan 24 to eight in the paint.
• The Buckeyes are now 11-7 in games in which they score 70 or more points.
• Ohio State has trailed by 10 or more points 106 times under Matta. The Buckeyes have come back to win 25 times (.236). Michigan led by 11 in the first half (19-8/14:08).
• Michigan was held under 20 field goals in the contest. The last time Ohio State held a foe to fewer than 20 FGM was against Jackson State earlier this year (18-61/.295.). The last time Ohio State held a Big Ten foe to fewer than 20 FGs was at Nebraska (2/20/2016). The Huskers connected on 19 of 70 shots (.271) in a 65-62 overtime loss.
• Matta teams have held 44 league foes to fewer than 20 field goals over the last 13 seasons (41-3). Ohio State is 13-3 in road games vs. Big Ten foes when holding opponents to fewer than 20 made FGs.
• Ohio State is 89-4 overall under Matta when holding foes to fewer than 20 made FGs.
• Big Ten foes have connected on at least 10 3-pointers in three-consecutive games, a first under Thad Matta. Iowa (10), Maryland (10) and Michigan (13) all hit double digit 3-point attempts over the last three games. Ohio State is 51-25 overall when foes connect on 10 or more from 3-point range.
• Matta teams are 65-3 when making at least 20 foul shots, The Buckeyes were 24 of 28 at the line vs. Michigan (.857). OSU is 58-13 when making at least 80 percent from the charity stripe.
• Ohio State is 119-9 under Matta when opponents fail to reach 20 defensive rebounds. Michigan grabbed 17.
• Opponents have been whistled for 20 or more fouls 142 times in the Matta era. Ohio State is 120-22 in those games. Michigan was called for 22 fouls.
• Ohio State is 149-20 when opponents are credited with 10 or fewer assists. Michigan handed out 10 helpers.
• The Ohio State bench outscored Michigan’s 13-8. On the year, non-starters for both Ohio State and its opponents have scored 428 points this season.
• Thad Matta is 20-7 versus Michigan in his tenure at Ohio State.
• Matta is 170-82 against Big Ten opponents while coaching the Buckeyes.
• Ohio State is now 64-46 against Big Ten teams when the game is decided by 10 or fewer points under Matta.
• The Buckeyes are now 293-42 when holding their opponents to under 70 points under Matta.
• Ohio State is now 212-30 when outrebounding their opponent with Matta at the helm.
• Jae’Sean Tate filled up the stat sheet with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and a block.
• Tate has now scored in double figures 10 consecutive games and 22 of 24 games for the season.
• Marc Loving scored an Ohio State high 17 points while adding five rebounds.
• Loving has now scored in double figures in five of the last seven contests.
• Trevor Thompson recorded a double-double scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 boards.
• This was Thompson’s eighth double-double of the season and 11th of his career, all while at Ohio State.
For more on the Buckeyes click on the Ohio State Notes link above.
