Chris Holtmann believes Zed Key's injury is not long-term

Speaking with the media after Ohio State’s win over Iowa, coach Chris Holtmann detailed the severity of the injury suffered by Zed Key. The Buckeyes broke a losing streak with a 93-77 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, but might have lost Key for some additional time in the win. Late in the second half, Key appeared to injure his knee while landing the wrong way after a dunk.

While the injury resulted in him needing helped off the court by his teammates in obvious pain, Holtmann explained after the game that the team does not think his injury will keep him out for a long time.

Chris Holtmann gives Zed Key injury update

“Zed, I don’t have anything specific right now,” answered Holtmann. “It does not look like a long-term injury, as of now. It does not look like a long-term injury. I asked him why he dunked it and he said ‘I was hooping.’ So, he felt good about that one. He did feel some pain, but it does not look like a long-term injury.”

The injury timing is even more unfortunate for Key and the Buckeyes as the forward is just coming back from another injury that caused him to miss some time. Key suffered a shoulder sprain a few weeks before against Purdue that forced him to miss their contest against Maryland earlier this year.

Holtmann spoke after Key’s return game against Minnesota about what he called a “mistake” by him as a coach. Key had missed practices leading up to the game against the Golden Gophers and ended up playing 30 minutes in his return.

“We obviously had a little bit of lack of continuity,” Holtmann said then of the Buckeyes’ shooting performance against Minnesota. “Zed wasn’t able to practice the last couple of days. Looking back on it, I think I made a mistake playing him too long.

“I should not have played him as long as I did.”