Ohio State sophomore forward EJ Liddell will be out indefinitely due to a non-COVID related illness.
The university released the news late Friday afternoon.
“I’m really disappointed for E.J. but we anticipate him returning here hopefully soon,” head coach Chris Holtmann said in the statement. “He is doing well and is going to be routinely evaluated by our medical staff.”
Liddell is Ohio State’s leading scorer (15.5 ppg) and rebounder (7.5 rpg). He also leads the team in blocks (1.5 bpg) and is second on the team with six steals.
Liddell has scored in double figures in all four games this season. His best game was his last outing at Notre Dame where he scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. He essentially took over the second half after a “conversation” with Holtmann at halftime.
The Buckeyes are already a bit thin on the front court as they await the debut of transfer forward Seth Towns. Towns is a day-to-day, week-to-week decision per Holtmann, but they could certainly use some minutes now without Liddell for the short term.
Ohio State hosts Cleveland State on Sunday at Value City Arena. Tip time is 4 p.m. with the Big Ten Network televising. The Buckeyes then open Big Ten play next Wednesday, Dec. 16, on the road against Purdue before a game Saturday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland against North Carolina.
