Big Ten Tournament Up Next For Buckeyes
3/6/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 6, 2017
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No. 11 Ohio State Buckeyes (17-14) vs. No. 14 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (14-17)
| Date: | March 8, 2017 |
| Site: | Verizon Center (18,277) |
| Game Time: | 7 p.m. |
| Television: | BTN |
| Talent: | Kevin Kugler (Play-By-Play) Shon Morris (Expert Analysis) Mike Hall (Sideline) |
| Radio: | OSU-IMG Sports Network (60 stations) |
| Satellite Radio: | Sirius TBA/XM TBA |
| Local Radio: | WBNS-FM 97.1, AM-1460 |
| Radio Talent: | Paul Keels (Play-By-Play) Ron Stokes (Expert Analysis) |
Ohio State Big Ten Tournament History
The No. 11 seed in the 2017 Big Ten Tournament, the Buckeyes are 26-12 all-time in BTT play since the event began in 1998. Ohio State was the No. 7 seed in 2016 and has won 23 of its last 31 league tournament games, including 15 of the last 19. By seed, Ohio State is 11-2 as No. 1, 3-0 as No. 2, 2-1 as No. 3, 4-3 as No. 5, 2-2 as No. 6, 1-1 as No. 7, 3-1 as No. 8, 0-1 as No. 9 and 0-1 as No. 11. Ohio State has entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed five times (2000, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011). Thad Matta is 23-8 in league tournament play with four titles (2007, 2010, 2011, 2013) and seven title game appearances (2006, 2009, 2012). The Buckeyes have been seeded higher in 22 BTT games all-time and are 20-2 in those games. As the lower seed, the Buckeyes are 6-10 all-time. Thad Matta teams are 11-1 in Ohio State’s opening game of the tournament. Seven of the Buckeyes’ opening games in the last 12 years have been decided by six or fewer points, all Ohio State wins.
Matta in the Big Ten Tournament
Ohio State has played in more games in the Big Ten Tournament (31) than any other league school since Thad Matta took over in Columbus 13 years ago. The Buckeyes also have the most wins (23) with the next closest being Michigan State with 19. Ohio State’s winning percentage of 74.2 (23-8) also tops all league schools.
2016-17 Buckeyes in Postseason Play
The current roster of Ohio State players has a total of 41 games of experience in postseason play, seven in NCAA Tournament competition, 11 in the National Invitation Tournament and 23 games in Big Ten Tournament play. Senior Marc Loving is the Buckeye with the most experience. In 12 total postseason games, he averages just under 8.7 ppg. and 3.2 rpg. Redshirt junior Kam Williams has played in eight postseason contests, making a pair of starts, and scoring 5.3 ppg. Junior Keita Bates-Diop has played in six games with averages of 4.3 ppg and 2.1 rpg. while redshirt junior Trevor Thompson has averaged 6.2 ppg. and 4.4 rpg. in five games. Junior Jae’Sean Tate has tallied 7.8 ppg. and 5.8 rpg. in four postseason contests while sophomore JaQuan Lyle has stood out in four postseason games, averaging 17.3 ppg. and 9.5 rpg. The rest of the roster has played in two postseason games.
Tate, Thompson Earn Big Ten Honors
Juniors Jae’Sean Tate (coaches/media) and Trevor Thompson (media) were both selected to the 2017 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Team Monday. Sophomore C.J. Jackson was Ohio State’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree. Tate led the Buckeyes in scoring with 14.2 points per game. He became a career 1,000-point scorer this season (1,076) as well as one of 27 Buckeyes all-time to record both 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career. Thompson averaged 10.7 points and a team-high 9.1 rebounds a game this season, which ranked second in the league. Jackson started the final eight games of the season and appeared in 31 total in his first season with the Buckeyes. He played a career-high 37 minutes in the season finale vs. Indiana, making 5-of-8 shots from 3-point range while tying his career high with 18 points.
Seniors Make Final Home Appearance
Four senior Buckeyes made their final home appearance when Ohio State faced Indiana last Saturday. Marc Loving (Toledo, Ohio), who has played four seasons for the Buckeyes, and three senior managers ended home careers Saturday. Loving and managers Beau Beechler (Sandusky, Ohio), Cameron Harris (Defiance, Ohio) and Brian Lamb (Strongsville, Ohio) were recognized before the Indiana game. Loving moved into the Top 10 at Ohio State in games played (133) when he took the court vs. Indiana, which tied him for 10th all-time with Jerry Francis (1986-89). Loving is currently No. 27 in career scoring at Ohio State (1,332) and he is one of 27 Buckeyes all-time to record both 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career.
Matta’s Senior Day Record
Thad Matta has finished off the home season with a win in 10 of 13 seasons in Columbus. Five times the Buckeyes defeated ranked teams, two of those were No. 1 at the time. The finale this season marked the first time Ohio State ended the home campaign against Indiana with Matta as the Buckeyes’ head coach. In the final regular season game of the year (H and A), Matta is 10-3 as head coach of the Buckeyes.
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 459 games to date (337-122). 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).
• When the calendar flips to March, it’s Matta time in Columbus. Over his 13 years at Ohio State, Matta is 62-23 (.729) in the month of March, the fifth-best record nationally among active coaches. See Page 15 for more information.
• 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 1,332 is 28th on the all-time Ohio State scoring list. He passed Jamar Butler with 1,313 and Aaron Craft with 1,314 with 14 at Penn State. Jim Cleamons is No. 27 with 1,335. Against Maryland Feb. 11, junior Jae’Sean Tate (1,076), now 45 on the all-time list, became the 54th Buckeye to reach 1,000 career points and the 13th in the Matta era. He passed Carter Scott with 20 vs. Indiana. Tate is tied with Scoonie Penn (1.076) and trails Mel Nowell at No. 44 (1,100).
• Thad Matta is No. 13 all-time in career Big Ten regular-season victories … Matta owns 150 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 1,076 points (11.4 ppg.) and 553 caroms (5.9 rpg.) over 94 career appearances…Tate reached 500 rebounds with five at Michigan Feb. 4…Loving has 1,332 career points (10.0 ppg.) and 510 career rebounds (3.8 rpg.).
Off the Bench
• 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.
• 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.
• Ohio State has had four games decided by one point this season (2-2). The Buckeyes were not involved in a one-point game in 2015 or 2016.The last time the Buckeyes were involved in four or more games decided by one point was in 1949-50 when five games when down the wire. Ohio State was 4-1 in those games that year.
12/28/49 W 4-vs Cornell 43-42
2/6/50 W @Indiana 56(7)-55(12)
2/13/50 W @Missouri 47(4)-46
3/9/50 W Butler 66(2)-65
3/23/50 L 5-CC-NY 55(2)-56
• 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.
• 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 7-7 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), at Nebraska (67-66) and at Penn State (71-70). Losses have been to Indiana (96-92), 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 18th nationally among players 6-4 or shorter with 6.4 rebounds per game … he also is tied for 10th nationally among players 6-4 or shorter with 1.9 offensive rebounds per game.
• Trevor Thompson has the most double-doubles (11) 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.
• C.J. Jackson made a career-high five 3-pointers the last time out vs. Indiana … over the last three games he is 9-of-13 from long range (.692) … overall he is 14-of-24 from the field (.583) … JaQuan Lyle has made 70 percent of his field goal attempts over the last two games (14-20) … he is also 4-4 from 3-point range … Kam Williams has made at least one 3-pointer in 27 of 31 games this season … he needs six points to reach 300 this season … Andre Wesson has made five of his eight total 3-pointers this season over the last three games (5-8/.625) … Jae’Sean Tate recorded a career-high six assists the last time out vs. Indiana … he needs one helper to reach 100 for his career … Trevor Thompson reached 600 career rebounds with 11 vs. Indiana last Saturday. He has 460 as a Buckeye after grabbing 140 as a freshman at Virginia Tech (2013-14) … he also eclipsed the 700-point mark (709) with 19 vs. the Hoosiers.
Buckeyes Balanced on Offense
Through 31 games, Ohio State has four 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 (12.5), sophomore JaQuan Lyle (11.6) and junior Trevor Thompson (10.7). Junior Kam Williams (9.7) 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 9.0 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 4-1 record vs. Rutgers. All four 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 and two at Value City Arena. 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 16.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in four career meetings vs. the Scarlet Knights. He has connected on 28-39 field goals (.718). Junior Kam Williams contributes 15.0 points in the series. He has made 11-of-21 from 3-point range in the series. Sophomore JaQuan Lyle adds 7.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in three 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 Trevor Thompson averages 11.3 points and 8.7 boards in his three meetings with the Scarlet Knights.
Scouting the Scarlet Knights
Rutgers enters the game vs. Ohio State with an overall record of 14-17 and a 3-15 record in Big Ten play. Sophomore Corey Sanders leads the team with 12.9 points a game from his guard position. Junior forward Deshawn Freeman adds 10.9 points just behind junior guard Nigel Johnson’s 11.0 ppg. Freeman is the team’s top rebounder with 8.0 boards a game.
Last Time vs. Rutgers
Kam Williams had 23 points and Trevor Thompson added 15 points and 13 rebounds as Ohio State beat Rutgers 70-64 Feb. 8 in Columbus. Williams hit a 3-pointer and a subsequent foul shot to break a 62-all tie at 1:05 after Rutgers had overcame a 12-point deficit. After Ohio State’s Jae’Sean Tate missed a pair of foul shots, Rutgers’ Deshawn Freeman tipped in a rebound to cut the lead to two, but the Scarlet Knights ran out of time. Corey Sanders led Rutgers with 17 points but fouled out with just under five minutes left in the game. With the game tied at 10 with 13:23 left in the first half, Ohio State went on a 10-2 run, led by as many as 11 and held a 33-27 advantage at halftime. Tate had 11 points in the first 20 minutes, missing just one shot, but he wouldn’t score again, missing the two foul shots down the stretch. The Buckeyes prevailed despite turning the ball over 15 times, leading to 19 Rutgers points.
Ohio State vs. The Big Ten
Ohio State completed its 105th season as a member of the Big Ten Conference in 2016-17. The Buckeyes own an overall record of 802-712 against current league members. Thad Matta, in 17 seasons as a head coach, owns an overall record of 177-89 vs. league members, including a mark of 173-86 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 173-86 vs. Big Ten foes (regular season and Big Ten tournament games) for an overall record of 337-122. In 17 seasons as a head coach (1 at Butler, 3 at Xavier and 13 at Ohio State) Matta is 177-89 vs. the current roster of Big Ten teams. He has winning records vs. 10-of-13 league opponents: ILL (17-6), IND (12-11), IOWA (13-8), MICH (20-7), MINN (15-7), NW (19-2), PSU (22-2), 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 150 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 Indiana Game
• The Buckeyes trail the all-time series with Indiana 104-78.
• Ohio State is 52-36 against the Hoosiers in Columbus.
• Ohio State is 115-9 all-time against Big Ten opponents when scoring 90+ points in a game.
• The Buckeyes have attempted 20+ free throws in their last four contests, shooting 72.2 percent (65-90).
• The Buckeyes are 3-1 this season when scoring 80+ points.
• Ohio State allowed a season-high 58.6 percent shooting from the field in the contest.
• Indiana is only the third opponent the Buckeyes have allowed to shoot 50 percent or better from the field this season.
• The Buckeyes are 1-2 in contests in which their opponent shoots better than 50 percent from the field this season.
• Ohio State is 622-271 contests in which a player records a double-double.
• Ohio State is 5-1 this season when making 10+ 3-pointers.
• The Buckeyes’ bench outscored the Hoosiers bench 21-3 in the game.
• Thad Matta is 12-10 versus Indiana in his tenure at Ohio State.
• Ohio State is 214-32 when outrebounding their opponent under Matta.
• Matta teams are 18-28 when their opponent shoots 50+ percent from the field in a game.
• Matta-coached teams are 43-79 when their opponent scores 70 or more points in a game.
• Ohio State is now 152-11 when shooting 50 percent or higher from the field in a contest under Matta.
• Jae’Sean Tate put up a team-leading 20 points while adding a career-high six assists and six rebounds for the Buckeyes.
• Tate has now scored in double figures in 28 games this season.
• Marc Loving put up 11 points, three assists and three rebounds in the contest.
• Loving has scored in double figures in six consecutive games.
• Loving is now tied for 10th all-time with 133 appearances in his career at Ohio State.
• C.J. Jackson tied his season high with 18 points while making a career-high five 3-pointers.
• Jackson has now scored in double figures in two of the last three games.
• Trevor Thompson recorded his 11th double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds on the afternoon.
• The Buckeyes are 7-4 this season when Thompson records a double-double.
• JaQuan Lyle scored 18 points while chipping in one rebound and two assists.
• Lyle has now scored in double figures in three consecutive games.
For more on the Buckeyes click on the Ohio State Notes link above.
