At the time, it seemed like nothing more than a harmless basketball play.

But as P.J. Hill’s attempted steal broke Dallas Lauderdale’s hand, the Ohio State men’s basketball team was left without its starting center for the next four to six weeks.

While it is possible that Lauderdale could be back for the team’s opener Nov. 9, it is more likely he will be sidelined for at least a couple of games. His absence opens the door for Kyle Madsen and Zisis Sarikopoulos, the only other centers on the roster.

It’s not immediately clear which of the two will see the most time on the court, but Madsen said he expects both to make an impact.

“Dallas brings a lot of things to the table that we will miss,” Madsen said. “[Zisis] and myself will really be able to step out and help the team while he is gone.”

Sarikopoulos, a transfer from Alabama-Birmingham, has yet to play one minute in a Buckeye uniform. However, his inexperience has not left the seven-foot sophomore with a lack of confidence.

“I know I can score on the block,” Sarikopoulos said. “I like to create action though, so if I’m on the block and I know I’m not going to score, I can find the shooter. I can pass the ball very well.”

Junior David Lighty said that one of Sarikopoulos’ biggest assets is his ability off the ball.
“He’s a real wide body,” Lighty said of Sarikopoulos, who is listed at 265 pounds. “He can get people open with screens, and he’s hit me with a couple of them this year.”

While the Buckeyes may not miss Lauderdale on the offensive end, with most of the scoring expected to come from the other four positions, his absence on defense could be glaring. Lauderdale led the team and was second in the conference last season with more than two blocks per game.

Sarikopoulos said he is plenty capable of blocking shots, but knows that it is unrealistic to reproduce Lauderdale’s production. He said he spent most of last year working with assistant coach Alan Major on rebounding the ball, on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.

“Even though I didn’t play in games, the practice really helped me,” Sarikopoulos said. “I got stronger, I got more physical and I got more used to the Big Ten game in general.”

No matter how Madsen and Sarikopoulos play, with the team down one center it will be important for both to avoid foul trouble. There is a certain leeway that comes with having three centers on the roster, but without Lauderdale, there is no room for error.

“Coach [Thad Matta] has talked to us about it,” Sarikopoulos said. “We are going to have to be careful.”

Though it seems Sarikopoulos will be ready to step up, Matta may be more inclined to lean toward Madsen, a senior. He is coming off a season in which he averaged only 7.7 minutes a game, but, with Lauderdale’s injury, expects to have a bigger impact.

“Me and Dallas are really different players,” Madsen said. “Dallas is a lot more explosive blocking shots and dunking the ball. My game is a little more cerebral.”

Madsen spends more time on the perimeter and said he prefers to face up his defender as opposed to the back-to-the-basket approach Lauderdale uses.

However, the biggest difference between Madsen and the team’s other centers is his ability to shoot.

“Kyle is a threat because he can take it inside or outside,” Lauderdale said. “He has the ability to shoot the ball very well.”

The Buckeyes begin the season playing Alcorn State and James Madison, both inferior opponents, so it may not be necessary to get stellar play from the position right away.

But if Lauderdale is unable to return before the Nov. 19 showdown with defending national champion North Carolina, the two inexperienced centers will have to step up. Madsen said he is ready for the challenge.

“I’ve been here a while, and I’ve seen a lot of situations,” Madsen said. “I look forward to it.”