Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Host No. 5 Ohio State Wednesday Night
1/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 23, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
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Jan. 24, 2007 -- 7 p.m. CT
Northwestern (11-8, 1-5) vs. No. 5 Ohio State (16-3, 4-1)
Welsh-Ryan Arena (8,117)
Evanston, Ill.
Radio -- WGN 720 AM (Dave Eanet and Nate Pomeday)
Television -- ESPN Plus Local - WWME in Chicago (Mike Gleason and Bill Hosket)
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern takes on No. 5 Ohio State for the second time in three games Wednesday, its third contest against a top 10-ranked opponent in four games.
Northwestern got the monkey off its back with a 55-40 win at Minnesota Saturday where Phoenix natives Vince Scott and Kevin Coble led the Wildcats with 15 and 13 points, respectively. It was Coble's first game back after sitting out the two previous games with an ankle injury. Freshman Jeff Ryan is averaging just under 10 points per game in his last three starts.
Ohio State (16-3, 4-1) comes into the game on a roll, winning six of its last seven games, including a big win over then-No. 16 Tennessee Jan. 13 in Columbus. Its only conference loss of the season came on the road at Wisconsin. The Buckeyes are coming off an 82-63 win over Iowa Saturday night.
'Cats Lead NCAA in Assist/FG Ratio
Northwestern leads all Division I teams in assist to field goal ratio, according to the latest statistical release Jan. 22. The Wildcats have assisted on 289-of-402 (.719) makes, more than 70 percent of their baskets. In the win over Northwestern State on New Year's Eve, the Wildcats assisted on 27-of-34 field goals, the most assists in the Carmody era.
Doyle On Record-Setting Pace
With 104 assists, senior Tim Doyle is on pace to break Northwestern's single-season record for assists which currently stands at 154 (Patrick Baldwin, 1994). With his 5.47 apg average, he is on pace for 170 by season's end. Last year he became just the sixth player in Northwestern history to record at least 200 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in the same season. He is on pace to duplicate that feat again this year.
Noting the Win Over Minnesota
Home Cookin'
In the last five-plus years the Wildcats have recorded a 59-25 (.702) overall record at Welsh-Ryan Arena, including a 22-20 (.523) mark in Big
Ten play. The Wildcats have reached double figures in home wins in four of the past five years--including a school-record 12 in 2004-05--which was a first for the program. This year the Wildcats are 8-3 at home.
About The Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are led by a talented freshman class, headed by 7-foot center Greg Oden who is among the Big Ten leaders in blocked shots (1st-4.20) rebounding (2nd-8.6) and points (11th-14.4) in Big Ten games. He averages 15.3 ppg, 9.5 caroms and is shooting .645 percent from the field in all games. Classmate Mike Conley Jr., leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 4 nationally in assists per game (6.79) and also leads the league with 2.7 steals. Daequan Cook is second on the team with 13.7 ppg and 5.4 rebounds off the bench. Seniors Ron Lewis (12.5) and Ivan Harris (9.4) round out the leading scorers.
As a team Ohio State leads the Big Ten in scoring (78.6 ppg), FG percentage (.490), 3FG percentage (.385) and 3FG made (166).
All three of Ohio State's defeats have come on the road against top 10-ranked opponents: North Carolina, Florida and Wisconsin.
Thad Matta is in his third season as head coach in Columbus. In two years as a Buckeye, Matta had more wins than any previous Ohio State head coach after two seasons on the job with 46. He is one of just two coaches nationally to post 20 or more wins in each of his first six seasons as a head coach. The 2006 Big Ten Conference and USBWA District V Coach of the Year, Matta tied an Ohio State record for wins by a rookie coach (20) in 2004-05. Last season his team won the Big Ten regular-season title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
For the complete release click the PDF link above.
