COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The unexpected success of the Ohio State basketball team has come with a bit of history for Buckeyes coach Chris Holtmann.

With Wednesday night's 71-65 win at Northwestern, Holtmann became the first Big Ten coach since 1923 to win his first seven games in the conference. The Buckeyes moved to 16-4 (7-0 Big Ten) with the win, their sixth straight and 11th in their last 12 games.

The last Big Ten coach to win his first seven games in the league was Iowa's Sam Barry 95 years ago. He ended up winning his first 11 games. The record for such a streak belongs to Wisconsin's Walter Meanwell, who started the 1912 season 12-0.

Only four coaches in the history of the Big Ten have started their first seasons in the league 6-0 or better. Iowa's Tom Davis started 6-0 in 1987.

So it's been a while since someone has done this.

For what it's worth, a 12-0 start for Holtmann would have him going for the record on Feb. 7 in a game at No. 3 Purdue, which could decide the Big Ten regular season championship. The Buckeyes and Boilermakers are currently tied for first place in the league. Both teams have a two-game lead, with a win in hand over third-place Michigan.

Ohio State hasn't had a start like this to Big Ten play since the Buckeyes won their first 11 conference games en route to a 16-2 league record in 2010-11. Ohio State won the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles that year.

Holtmann's previous best seven-game league play start was 5-2 at Butler in the Big East last season.

The Buckeyes are back on the court at 12 p.m. Saturday against Minnesota (14-6, 3-4) in New York.