Zed Key, Kyle Young 'getting healthier,' still being evaluated for Buckeyes
PITTSBURGH — The Ohio State front court has a chance to gain depth at just the right time.
The Buckeyes are still evaluating forwards Zed Key and Kyle Young, and they have a chance to be available for the NCAA Tournament first round game against Loyola Chicago on Friday at 12:15 on CBS.
Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann confirmed the update for Key and Young on Thursday during his pre-tournament media session in PPG Paints Arena.
“They’re getting healthier,” Holtmann said. “The final decision will be tomorrow.”
He also previously listed both of them as game-time decisions who were still being evaluated during a media session back in Columbus on Wednesday.
The Buckeyes are hoping to have their full roster available for the first time in the month of March — just in time for the most important moment.
Key suffered an ankle injury in late February against Maryland and sat out multiple games before coming back in the regular-season finale against Michigan, just to re-aggravate that same ankle. He missed the Big Ten Tournament loss to Penn State. Young, meanwhile, has missed three straight games due to a concussion he suffered on March 1 in loss to Nebraska.
Top 10
- 1New
Quinn Ewers MRI
Texas 'cautiously optimistic' on QB
- 2Breaking
Kevin Wilson
Tulsa expected to fire head coach
- 3Hot
Updated SEC title game scenarios
The path to the championship game is clear
- 4
SEC refs under fire
'Incorrect call' wipes Bama TD away
- 5
'Fire Kelly' chants at LSU
Death Valley disapproval of Brian Kelly
Since both were injured, the Buckeyes were forced to turn to graduate senior Joey Brunk at the center spot and feature a smaller lineup in big moments. With both other forwards out, Brunk has stepped up in a huge way. He’s averaging 12 points per game in 29.3 minutes per game over the last three games. But in that time, the Buckeyes are 1-2.
Brunk may not need to shoulder such a large load Friday afternoon in a win-or-go-home March Madness game. And the lineup could go back to being a typical-looking unit on the floor rather than a guard-heavy edition.
Key and Young have been a massive part of the success this season for Ohio State. And both have a chance to be available against Loyola Chicago, the Buckeyes are gaining some much-needed depth in the paint.
