Meechie Johnson expected to return for Buckeyes against Iowa
COLUMBUS — Ohio State has a tough, compacted schedule during the final weeks of the regular season.
One of the Buckeyes key pieces has a good chance to return for all of it.
After missing the last two games with an ankle injury, Meechie Johnson is expected to be available for the Ohio State matchup against Iowa on Saturday afternoon. Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann announced the news at his press conference on Friday.
“We expect Meechie to be able to play,” Holtmann said.
The Buckeyes will be happy to get Johnson back for their upcoming run of games, which includes three games in six days, which begins with that home date with the Hawkeyes on Saturday and includes a road trip to No. 12 Illinois. The Buckeyes are currently tied in the loss column at the top of the Big Ten standings. A full and healthy lineup will only bolster their chances of staying there.
Johnson suffered the injury in the last-minute loss at Rutgers two weeks ago. The second-year guard appeared to roll his ankle midway through the second half and did not return to action, and he has been out of the lineup since then. He is averaging six points per game in 17 games played this season, and he has become one of the primary ball-handlers on a team that lacks point-guard play outside of starter Jamari Wheeler.
Eugene Brown III has started in place of Johnson for the last two games. The Buckeyes beat Michigan and Minnesota in the two games without Johnson.
But he’ll certainly be a welcomed addition back onto the Buckeyes available roster as they attack this compacted streak of games.
Up next for Buckeyes
Ohio State will host Iowa on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at Value City Arena. That game can be viewed on FOX.
The Buckeyes will then turn around just two days later and host Indiana inside Value City Arena on Monday night. That game will tip off at 7 p.m. and will be televised on FS1.
