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Buckeyes lay claim to No. 1 ranking
Oden collects 19 points and nine rebounds as OSU clobbers Minnesota for 11th straight victory.
Monday, February 19, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS — The last time Ohio State was No. 1 in the AP men's basketball poll, John Havlicek, Jerry Lucas and a sub named Bob Knight were leading the Buckeyes to the NCAA championship game.
That was 45 years ago, but after Greg Oden and No. 2 Ohio State breezed to an 85-67 victory over Minnesota on Sunday, Hondo and the General might finally have some company.
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Oden had 19 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, Ron Lewis scored 16 points and Mike Conley Jr. finished with 10 assists and five steals for Ohio State, which is looking for its first No. 1 ranking since 1962.
"Right now it doesn't mean as much as it would at the end of March in the tournament," Conley said. "Regardless of what ranking we are — 1, 2, 3, 4 — it doesn't matter to us. We're trying to get better as a team and hopefully make a run."
The Buckeyes (24-3, 12-1 Big Ten) have won 11 in a row, with losses only to heavyweights Florida, North Carolina and Wisconsin this season.
Lawrence McKenzie scored 22 points for the Gophers (9-18, 3-10), but he didn't get near the help from his supporting cast.
The No. 1 ranking is up for grabs Monday after top-ranked Florida lost at Vanderbilt on Saturday night, but OSU isn't the only team with a claim.
No. 3 Wisconsin (26-2) is the only Big Ten team to beat the Buckeyes this year and travels to Columbus for a showdown with Ohio State on Sunday.
Fifth-ranked UCLA (23-3) also could make the jump after soundly beating No. 19 Arizona 81-66 on Saturday.
Being ranked No. 1 heading into selection day would give OSU the inside track on the top seed in the close-to-home St. Louis bracket.
"Maybe it's superstitious of me," OSU coach Thad Matta said, "but if we start thinking about a seeding, my mind is not on this team and getting better."
