Sussman: Ohio State basketball of the past

As I am nearing my 80th birthday, I find that my memory of anything that occurred over 40 years ago is easily recalled. The problem is I do not remember what I had for lunch yesterday.

After we moved to Columbus in the early 50s, my father retained his prized Ohio State football tickets. He had some interest in OSU basketball, so we attended some games. Dad decided to order four seasons basketball tickets for the 53-54 season. Ohio State played its home games at the Fairgrounds Coliseum, the largest arena in town. The coliseum had about 5,500 permanent seats. The floor seats called boxes sat another 1,500. The so-called boxes were folding chairs on risers. They did not obstruct the permanent seats as there was a large aisle separation between permanent and boxes.

Our seats were five rows behind the visitors’ bench. This was a special year for the Bucks as they welcomed Robin Freeman, a Chuck Taylor High School All American from Cincinnati Hughes. Freeman averaged 39.5 points a game in his High School senior year. A doctor friend of the past informed me that he guarded Freeman in the State High School tournament. He told me that he and Freeman scored 37 points, Freeman he added had 35.

The Buckeyes were a talented team, but they lacked height. The tallest starter was Center Paul Ebert who was 6’4". The other starters were that height or shorter. Freeman, a guard was 5’ 11". The tallest player on the team was a reserve center Charlie Ropes who was 6’5"; nevertheless, they started 3-1 going into the most anticipated game of the pre-Big Ten season against Oregon State.

Oregon State was ranked 12th in the country on game day Dec. 26, 1953. The reason for all the hype was Oregon State’s center Swede Halbrook. He was 7’ 3". When he was off the floor which was not often, my mother was screaming “SIT DOWN” She was 5’ 1". I will never forget Paul Ebert getting the opening tip to a standing ovation. It was a great game even though the insane 2-year original 1 and 1 rule was in effect. The original rule was that all not shooting fouls had 1 shot if made and another shot if missed; in other words two to make one.

The Buckeyes lost 62-60. I still have the lineup sheet. Ebert and Freeman scored the bulk of the points as was usual that season. They were complemented by forwards John Miller and Don Kelly Freeman’s running mate at guard was Dean Cook. The coach in those days was Floyd Stahl formerly of Dayton Stivers High School. Floyd was only 5’5" so he thought the Buckeyes were plenty big enough. Had there been a three-point line Freeman would have been the top scorer in the nation. He was second in his junior year to Darrel Floyd of Furman. He averaged 31.5 points per game. Now what did I have for lunch yesterday ?

Write Mike Sussman at msilksussman@aol.com

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Sussman: Ohio State basketball of the past