Injuries have plagued the Ohio State men’s basketball team all season and the Buckeyes may be without another of their top players when they travel to No. 25 Michigan State tonight to kick off Big Ten Conference play.
Starting shooting guard Sean Connolly is listed as day-to-day with a sprained left ankle and has not practiced all week.
The timing could not be any worse, as the Spartans (8-4) were predicted to finish at the top of the Big Ten in the preseason.
OSU (7-4) is coming off an overtime loss last Saturday to No. 24 Louisville and looks to kick off the conference season with an upset.
“I think it’s a great start,” said guard and Michigan native Brent Darby. “It’s one of the toughest places to play probably in the country. It will be a battle. It’s a great situation for us.”
The Buckeyes will also suit up a new player for the battle against MSU. Freshman Nate Salley, a reserve safety for the OSU football team, practiced with the basketball Buckeyes on Tuesday. Salley returned home from the Fiesta Bowl Saturday night and was knocking on the door at basketball practice on Monday.
“We’re happy to have him,” OSU men’s basketball coach Jim O’Brien said of his new addition. “I don’t think there’s a downside to it and we’ll see. He just might be able to help us out.”
The team has welcomed Salley with open arms, Darby said. Salley averaged 18 points per game at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Salley actually discussed playing both football and basketball with O’Brien during his recruiting process.
“I just want to come out, give my best effort and do what I do,” Salley said. “I’m pretty confident — not cocky or anything — but I believe that I can do it.”
Salley will be a member of the scout team during practice and also a much-needed extra man on the bench for O’Brien’s squad.
The Buckeyes will need all the men they can get against yet another deep and talented Spartan team.
Along with Connolly, sophomore guard Brandon Fuss-Cheatam also missed practice on Tuesday. Fuss-Cheatam continues to recover from knee surgery.
“It’s hard to find a set rotation,” O’Brien said. “I think we’re making some progress. We have to deal with what the situation is and we are doing the best we can with that.”
The Buckeyes will need all the men they can get against yet another deep and talented Spartan team.
Michigan State men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans boast strong rebounding and an up-tempo style, led by sophomore guard Chris Hill. Hill is averaging 16 points per game through 12 games.
Michigan State, who came away with two hard-fought victories over the Buckeyes last season, is coming off back-to-back losses to Toledo and nationally-ranked Oklahoma.
O’Brien said his game plan against the Spartans is mostly a man-to-man defense and a simple offensive style.
“We’ve got to play a little bit slower,” O’Brien said. “We’re worried about fouls and we’re worried about fatigue. Certainly, we can’t get into a track meet. The one good thing about Michigan State is they are pretty straight forward.”
