Buckeyes still working to get healthy ahead of Big Ten Tournament run
COLUMBUS — Ohio State had three days between the regular season and postseason to try getting healthy.
The Buckeyes still aren’t sure if any progress has been made in the buildup to the Big Ten Tournament. Senior forward Kyle Young is still out, and he won’t play Thursday when Ohio State plays the winner of Wednesday night’s first round matchup between Penn State and Minnesota.
Starting center Zed Key, meanwhile, is still going through rehab and will be a game-time decision after re-injuring a nagging ankle injury on Sunday in the loss to Michigan. Second-year guard Meechie Johnson Jr. will be available for action after he was helped off the floor in the second half Sunday.
Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann provided the status updates during his press conference on Wednesday.
The Buckeyes have struggled with injuries all season, including playing the entire season without Seth Towns and all but two games without presumed starting forward Justice Sueing. Without those two, the rotation hasn’t been at full strength all year.
Without Young for Thursday night’s second round game, the Buckeyes will need minutes from graduate senior center Joey Brunk and other members of the front court. And while Key is a game-time decision, the Buckeyes can hope to have one of their starters back in the lineup as they hope to make a deep conference tournament run despite losing three of their final four regular season games.
Buckeyes slotted as No. 6 seed in Big Ten Tournament
After three losses in the final four games — two of those coming at home — the Buckeyes slipped down to the No. 6 seed in the league tournament. The Big Ten Tournament tips off on Wednesday, and the Buckeyes will play Thursday night in the last game of the night.
Who will they play? That is still yet to be determined. They’ll face the winner of No. 11 Penn State and No. 14 Minnesota, after those two teams battle on Wednesday night.
If they win that game Thursday night, they’ll face No. 3 seed Purdue in the late window Friday night.
Stick with Lettermen Row for more coverage of the Big Ten Tournament.
