Ohio State Dealing With Injuries As It Preps For Michigan

By Tim Shoemaker on February 3, 2017 at 4:00 pm
Ohio State point guard JaQuan Lyle dribbles up the floor.
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Ohio State already suffered a big-time blow earlier this year when it was announced junior forward Keita Bates-Diop would miss the remainder of the season with a shin injury that required surgery. The Buckeyes have been shorthanded ever since.

Turns out, there's potential for Ohio State to be even more up against it for Saturday's game at Michigan.

Head coach Thad Matta said Friday starting point guard JaQuan Lyle injured his ankle during Thursday's practice and he wouldn't practice Friday. Matta also said an additional player — he didn't specify who — "got his bell rung."

When asked if there was potential for Ohio State to be down a player or two in addition to Bates-Diop for Saturday's matchup with the Wolverines, Matta said he was optimistic that wouldn't be the case.

"I hope not," Matta said. "From what I'm hearing from the training room, everybody should be good to go."

Lyle averages 12.1 points and a team-high 5.3 assists per game. He is shooting a much-improved 39 percent from behind the 3-point line this season.

If Lyle can't play against the Wolverines, sophomore C.J. Jackson would be the likely replacement. Jackson is also dealing with a minor ankle injury but hasn't missed any time yet for the Buckeyes. Redshirt junior guard Kam Williams is also a bit banged up.

Junior forward Jae'Sean Tate just said that's part of the way a season goes.

"It's that time of the season that everybody's banged up," Tate said. "It's just something that in my three years of being here that that's going to happen. Hopefully, nobody's really hurt, so we've got to take advantage of our treatment if that's before or after practice and get ready to play."

Ohio State is just 13-10 on the season and 3-8 in the Big Ten. If the Buckeyes aren't at full strength for Saturday's game at Michigan, the chances of an upset are even less likely.

"We'll piece ourselves tomorrow night at 6 o'clock and be ready to go," Matta said.

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