Following his team's 79–73 win over Minnesota in the second round of the Big Ten Men's Basketball tournament, Thad Matta gathered with his players at mid-court for an impromptu celebration. In his hands was an Ohio State jersey with the number 298 on it, representing his win total in 11 seasons at the helm of the Buckeyes.
| YEAR | RECORD | POSTSEASON |
|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | 20–12 | Ineligible |
| 2005-06 | 26–6 | NCAA Second Round |
| 2006-07 | 35–4 | NCAA Runner-up |
| 2007-08 | 24–13 | NIT Champions |
| 2008-09 | 22–11 | NCAA First Round |
| 2009-10 | 29–8 | NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2010-11 | 34–3 | NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2011-12 | 31–8 | NCAA Final Four |
| 2012-13 | 29–8 | NCAA Elite Eight |
| 2013-14 | 25–10 | NCAA Second Round |
| 2014-15 | 23–9 | TBD |
The 298 also happened to be the most of any head coach at Ohio State, surpassing the great Fred Taylor's 297 achieved in 18 seasons.
After the game, he was asked to reflect on the milestone.
“You know, I think from the standpoint of and I've said this – nobody ever remembers the past. Nobody remembers when we came in or what we took over in this program with sanctions and visits and postseason bans and all that stuff. You know, I've always said this: I give credit to Matt Marinchick, Tony Stockman, and Brandon Fuss-Cheatham. They were our first senior class and they kind of helped us set the tone.”
He went on, “I think, personally, for me, the people it probably means the most for me is my wife and my two daughters. Because I've gone probably, well, going on eight years with a disability, and they're the ones that have suffered the things that I can't do as a father – I can't do as a husband. And they've never wavered. I have some really, really bad days in terms of coming home after games and they've got to help me get my shoes and socks off, and for them to stay the course with me, it means a heck of a lot more to me for them than it does for myself.”
Thad Matta has ben nothing but a class act during his time in Columbus, whether it's dealing with the press, protecting his players, or his ability to say the right thing at all times – even when the times aren't the best. Luckily for Ohio State fans, his bad times are few and far between.
