Ohio State releases significant status update on EJ Liddell vs. Illinois

Ohio State could be without its top player for Thursday’s matchup with Illinois.

Forward EJ Liddell is questionable as he recovers from the flu, Ohio State announced Thursday afternoon. Liddell leads the Buckeyes with 19.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game this season, which shows how big his absence would be in the pivotal Big Ten matchup against Kofi Cockburn and the Fighting Illini.

Ohio State is two games back of first place in the Big Ten standings — and 1.5 games behind third-place Illinois. Thursday night’s game could shake up the standings even more, and depending on Liddell’s status, the Buckeyes could be without their best player.

Ohio State is 17-7 overall and 10-5 in Big Ten action this year. Tip-off between the Buckeyes and the Fighting Illini is coming up Thursday in Champaign at 9 p.m. ET on FS1. Illinois will also be missing some players after announcing multiple reserves will miss the conference showdown.

Illinois set to be without multiple reserves for Ohio State matchup

When Illinois and Ohio State face off in a major Big Ten showdown, the Fighting Illini are going to be shorthanded. Brad Underwood confirmed multiple reserve players will miss the matchup.

Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk and RJ Melendez are both out due to injuries, Underwood told reporters Wednesday. Bosmans-Verdonk entered concussion protocol and Melendez had emergency surgery for appendicitis, according to Illini Inquirer’s Jeremy Werner.

Bosmans-Verdonk has played in 22 games this year and averages 1.8 points per game and shoots 47.2% from the field in 8.4 minutes per game for Illinois. Melendez, meanwhile, averages 8.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.2 minutes over 19 games this season.

Illinois has dealt with plenty of injuries this season. Andre Curbelo missed 14 games with a concussion, and Kofi Cockburn also had a concussion earlier in the conference season. Still, the Fighting Illini find themselves a half game behind first-place Purdue and Wisconsin heading into Thursday’s matchup with Ohio State.

The Buckeyes currently sit 1.5 games behind Illinois in the standings. That’s why Thursday’s game is such a big one. Ohio State is still in the race to the top of the Big Ten, which saw a three-way tie between Illinois, Purdue and Wisconsin for first place earlier this month.

In fact, the top eight teams are separated by just 3.5 games — including a three-way tie for sixth place between Michigan State, Michigan and Iowa. There’s still plenty to sort out before the Big Ten tournament, which is coming up March 9-13 in Indianapolis.