Buckeyes expecting Eugene Brown III back soon: 'I know our team needs him'
COLUMBUS — Ohio State third-year wing Eugene Brown III was one of three returning rotational players for the Buckeyes this season. But Brown has yet to play a game because he’s been in concussion protocol the last two months. He even missed the exhibition against Division II Chaminade.
Now, just as Big Ten play is about to pick up, Ohio State is expecting to get the junior back.
Well, soon. The exact timeline isn’t certain since, concussion protocol aside, Brown has to get back into game shape, too.
“Gene’s making progress,” head coach Chris Holtmann said last week ahead of the Maine game. “Expect his return shortly — not exactly sure yet. lt’s going to depend on how practice goes.”
The 6-foot-7 Brown appeared in all but six games last season — during which he also dealt with a concussion — and made 10 starts in the process, although he averaged only 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per outing in 2021-22.
Brown’s most memorable performances last season were his 10-point, six-rebound, three-steal, two-block stat line in the Buckeyes’ overtime win over Indiana in February, and his game-saving block in regulation that set the stage for an overtime victory against Nebraska in January.
Perhaps most notably, Brown would lend the Buckeyes a hand defensively, where Ohio State’s lagging right now — especially without Oklahoma State graduate transfer Isaac Likekele, whose return is still a “wait and see” situation as he’s dealing with a “family matter.”
Brown offers the Buckeyes positional versatility, or, as Holtmann says, “switch-ability” from three through five. Brown’s length allows him to guard smaller guards as well as frontcourt players.
“There’s certainly a place for him, but it’s too early to tell yet,” Holtmann said, when asked where Brown would fit into the rotation.
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“At this point, it would be just kind of speculation. He plays either wing spot. Kind of the 3/4, which is pretty similar in our system. He also gives us the ability if we want to play smaller and maybe a little bit faster on occasion to just play three of those guys together.”
Holtmann pointed out that Brown’s offseason was truncated due to some other minor injuries. When Brown was on the court, however, Holtmann said it was exciting to see the experienced wing play.
Ohio State already has depth offensively. Despite missing Likekele for a third straight game, every player in the Buckeyes’ eight-man rotation converted at least two field goal attempts in a runaway victory over Maine last week. And five of them, including a trio of freshmen, finished in double figures.
Where Holtmann’s group needs assistance is on the other end of the floor.
Although Brown wasn’t the Buckeyes’ best defender last year — in fact, he was 10th on the team in defensive rating (108.1), according to Sports Reference — he has the size and athleticism to give them a lift there.
“I think our team needs him — I don’t think, I know our team needs him,” Holtmann said, “and we’re excited to get him back when we can.”
