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'It'll be a decision between him and his family': Zed Key's injury status, return up in the air

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•02/20/23•

andybackstrom

Zed Key by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Ohio State center Zed Key was sidelined at Purdue after re-aggravating his left shoulder sprain earlier in the week at Iowa. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

COLUMBUS — There’s still no update on Ohio State center Zed Key, who missed Sunday’s 82-55 loss at then-No. 3 Purdue after re-aggravating his left shoulder sprain earlier in the week at Iowa.

Key originally suffered the injury in the first half against Purdue on Jan. 5 while jostling for a defensive rebound with Boilermakers 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey.

“We don’t know anything right now definitively,” Buckeyes head coach Chris Holtmann said postgame Sunday. “Obviously, we’re hopeful.”

Holtmann was asked about Key’s status during his 97.1 The Fan radio show Monday afternoon.

“I don’t have any additional news from [Sunday],” Holtmann said. “He’s being evaluated probably as we speak, and we’ll know more. It’ll be a decision between him and his family in terms of what’s the next direction to go with.”

Before Key’s latest setback at Iowa, Holtmann said on radio show last week that Ohio State’s medical team would determine after the season if Key needed surgery.

Holtmann was then asked in his subsequent media availability last Monday if there have been any conversations about shutting Key down for the season.

“We feel like we can manage it through the season right now,” Holtmann said at the time. “The brace really does protect it unless there’s something more significant. Even if there was something more significant, I don’t know that it would require immediate surgery. But it could mean that he has to miss another game.”

That protective brace Holtmann mentioned has been quite restrictive, according to Key, who said that it makes it more difficult for him to breathe and to extend his left arm.

Key came into Iowa City having averaged 9.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while posting a 46.7% 2-point field goal percentage since the injury. In Ohio State’s first 13 games this season, a healthy Key was averaging 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds while converting 70.6% of his 2-point attempts. Also, six of Key’s seven made 3-pointers this season came in that early-season span.

Key missed only one full game — a Jan. 8 contest at Maryland — after being diagnosed with the sprain. He came off the bench against Minnesota and Rutgers before starting the next nine games.

The Buckeyes could have used Key Sunday against an Edey-led Purdue team that outrebounded Ohio State, 44-21, not to mention that the Boilermakers outscored the Buckeyes in the paint, 40-20. Edey finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Holtmann turned to a combination of freshman center Felix Okpara, junior wing Eugene Brown III and former preferred walk-on and Citadel transfer Owen Spencer to defend Edey.

“I mean, Zed Key is a talented player,” said Isaac Likekele, an Ohio State captain and Oklahoma State grad transfer. “That’s my guy, that’s my brother. But, at the end of the day, there are so many other scholarship players on the team. So it’s ‘next guy up’ mentality. Just gotta be ready. Today it was Owen, Fe (Felix). Just gotta figure out a way. That’s what it’s about. It’s about finding a way, no matter who we got out there.”

Brown added: “Yeah, it’s tough. After him going out against Purdue and then battling back, trying to contribute to the team and trying to do everything he can. But obviously it’s kind of tough when every other game he’s grabbing his shoulder, and he’s hurt every 30 seconds. It’s a tough battle for him. He took today off just to try to get some more rest for the next upcoming games. But it’s definitely tough just watching your brothers struggle.”

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