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Lifelong Big Ten fan heads Buckeyes

By Jeff Shelman
Special to ESPN.com

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Thad Matta, simply put, is a Big Ten guy. Growing up in the tiny east-central Illinois town of Hoopeston, Matta knew nothing but the Big Ten. A 40-minute drive east and Matta was at Purdue. Head 45 minutes southwest and he was at the University of Illinois. Matta was a high school kid in the mid-80s, back when Big Ten basketball meant Bob Knight, Jud Heathcote, Gene Keady and Lou Henson. That upbringing is much of the reason why Matta is where he is, coaching the Ohio State Buckeyes. Why he ag ...

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