WATCH: EJ Liddell sends back Patrick McCaffery dunk attempt
Ohio State forward EJ Liddell can do it all. The Buckeyes star showed off his defensive playmaking ability on Saturday in insane fashion.
Liddell had a massive block on a Patrick McCaffery dunk during Ohio State’s matchup with Iowa in Columbus. The play kept the Buckeyes in front, but the Hawkeyes ended up taking a 39-38 lead into halftime.
Still, it was a huge play.
Liddell leads Ohio State with 19.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game this year. Through one half of play against Iowa, he had 10 points and four blocks as the Buckeyes try to stay in the thick of a wild Big Ten race this season.
Ohio State is looking for its third straight win to try and keep pace with the top three teams in the Big Ten. Illinois and Purdue are tied for first place while Wisconsin sits alone in third place in the league standings. The Buckeyes are currently tied with red-hot Rutgers for fourth place.
Meechie Johnson available for Ohio State vs. Iowa
Chris Holtmann has revealed the status of guard Meechie Johnson for Saturday’s showdown against Iowa. According to the Buckeyes coach Chris Holtmann, Ohio State will have Johnson for their game against the Hawkeyes.
“Ohio State’s Meechie Johnson (undisclosed) is available for today’s game against Iowa, per Chris Holtmann,” wrote CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. “Averages 6 PPG.”
Moreover, Johnson suffered an ankle injury in the Buckeyes’ last-minute loss at Rutgers two weeks ago. Midway through the second half, the young guard appeared to roll his ankle. Afterwards, Johnson did not return to action, and missed time since then. Additionally, the Buckeyes guard is averaging six points per game in 17 contests, and has become one of the primary ball-handlers on a team that lacks point-guard play outside of starter Jamari Wheeler.
Over the last two games, Eugene Brown III has started in place of Johnson for the last two games. Without Johnson in the lineup, Ohio State still found ways to win — defeating Michigan and Minnesota in the showdowns without him.