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Matta welcomed to Ohio State as head coach

Thad Matta officially became a Buckeye Friday.

The former Xavier coach was introduced as Ohio State's men's basketball coach.

University president Karen Holbrook announced at an afternoon press conference that trustees officially approved Matta as coach.

He is taking over a team shaken by the sudden firing of coach Jim O'Brien over alleged NCAA violations. O'Brien admitted giving money to a recruit.

Ohio State went 14-and-16 a year ago and finished ninth in the Big Ten with a six-and-ten record, missing the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row.

But Matta says the challenges don't faze him. He says he is taking the job to help bring Ohio State basketball back into national prominence.

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