With a critical stretch this week, Ohio State hopes to be healthy.
The men’s basketball team at Ohio State has been largely healthy during the entire 2023–24 campaign. Head coach Chris Holtmann has usually had a complete roster of players to choose from, despite a few minor ailments that have caused players to miss brief stints of time.
As they approach a pivotal stretch, the Buckeyes hope that continues to be the case. This week, Ohio State plays Indiana and Maryland at home back-to-back for the first time since the Scarlet and Gray started playing in the Big Ten on a regular basis. After suffering losses in seven of their previous eight games and four games in a row, the Buckeyes are hoping to pick up some momentum at Value City Arena.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Holtmann gave some encouraging news about freshman guard Scotty Middleton, who was sidelined for last week’s loss at Iowa due to a foot ailment.
Holtmann remarked, “He’s kind of day-to-day right now.” “He’s progressing well.
An injury to the foot. The day before the game, he performed it during practice. He therefore lives day to day. However, he took some actions yesterday. He is therefore moving a little bit more adeptly.”
This season, Middleton has established himself as a key reserve for the Scarlet and Gray. The rookie has the highest average of any rookie on the team, 16.6 minutes per game when coming off the bench for Ohio State. He has scored 4.3 points per game on 38 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range, along with 1.5 rebounds and just under one assist per game.
Devin Royal, a forward, benefited from Middleton’s absence against the Hawkeyes, playing the most minutes of his rookie year. Nine points on the bench is Royal’s highest point total in a Big Ten game. A few other players were “a little banged up” during Sunday’s practice, according to Holtmann. The head coach didn’t think anyone would lose time, even though he didn’t know who those players were.
Holtmann remarked, “I think we’ll be alright.” It’s nothing major, in my opinion. We have another practice scheduled for today. However, I don’t think there’s anything noteworthy to hold a person out at this time.”
Despite having a combined record of four victories away from home this season, the Hoosiers and Terrapins are both in the bottom half of the Big Ten rankings. The Buckeyes, who are at 3-8 in Big Ten play, must win a lot of games in order to strengthen their case for a trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet and Gray should have a reasonably healthy squad to accomplish that because they can’t afford to lose these games at home.