Zed Key, Kyle Young 'getting healthier,' still being evaluated for Buckeyes

PITTSBURGH — The Ohio State front court has a chance to gain depth at just the right time.

The Buckeyes are still evaluating forwards Zed Key and Kyle Young, and they have a chance to be available for the NCAA Tournament first round game against Loyola Chicago on Friday at 12:15 on CBS.

Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann confirmed the update for Key and Young on Thursday during his pre-tournament media session in PPG Paints Arena.

“They’re getting healthier,” Holtmann said. “The final decision will be tomorrow.”

He also previously listed both of them as game-time decisions who were still being evaluated during a media session back in Columbus on Wednesday.

The Buckeyes are hoping to have their full roster available for the first time in the month of March — just in time for the most important moment.

Key suffered an ankle injury in late February against Maryland and sat out multiple games before coming back in the regular-season finale against Michigan, just to re-aggravate that same ankle. He missed the Big Ten Tournament loss to Penn State. Young, meanwhile, has missed three straight games due to a concussion he suffered on March 1 in loss to Nebraska.

Since both were injured, the Buckeyes were forced to turn to graduate senior Joey Brunk at the center spot and feature a smaller lineup in big moments. With both other forwards out, Brunk has stepped up in a huge way. He’s averaging 12 points per game in 29.3 minutes per game over the last three games. But in that time, the Buckeyes are 1-2.

Brunk may not need to shoulder such a large load Friday afternoon in a win-or-go-home March Madness game. And the lineup could go back to being a typical-looking unit on the floor rather than a guard-heavy edition.

Key and Young have been a massive part of the success this season for Ohio State. And both have a chance to be available against Loyola Chicago, the Buckeyes are gaining some much-needed depth in the paint.