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Do-everything guard Evan Turner will return to the Ohio State lineup a month earlier than expected after suffering a back injury against Eastern Michigan on December 5.
That sound you heard was Thad Matta letting out a sigh of relief: Ohio State star shooting guard Evan Turner could potentially be back from his broken back a month sooner than originally expected. The Columbus Dispatch reports that, according to an unnamed source close to the team, if Turner is able to practice on Tuesday without any setbacks, the surefire lottery pick could return for the team's Wednesday game against Indiana.
Turner had an X-ray on his lower back on Monday, and while the team has not released the results, they were apparently encouraging enough that Turner should be back within the next two weeks, if not sooner. Turner originally injured his back on December 5th in a game against Eastern Michigan, after landing awkwardly during a scary fall.
Ohio State has struggled in Turner's absence, going 3-3, but opening Big Ten play at 0-2.
Evan Turner fell on his back after a dunk attempt in the first half of Saturday’s win over Eastern Michigan. According to Big Ten Network, Turner suffered a “transverse process fracture of the second and third lumbar vertebra of his spine.”
Turner was the OSU’s leading scorer (20.6 ppg), rebounder (12.9 rpg) and assist man (6.6 apg), so Jon Diebler, David Lighty and the rest of the Buckeyes have a lot of production to make up over the next two months.
Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Jon Diebler scored 21 points and P.J. Hill added 18, as 15th-ranked Ohio State dominated without an injured Evan Turner and rolled to a 111-60 victory over Eastern Michigan at Value City Arena.
Turner, Ohio State's leading scorer and rebounder, was hurt with 13:27 left in the first half. As he drove the lane, minor contact from Antonio Green was enough to alter Turner's direction. He fell hard to the floor on his back and slowly rose to his feet before gingerly walking off the court.
Ohio State officials said Turner was taken to the school's medical center for precautionary x-rays.
The Buckeyes (7-1) did not miss a beat and reached the 100-point mark for the third time this season. Jeremie Simmons scored 17 points and David Lighty chipped in 16 for Ohio State, which was coming off a 77-64 victory over Florida State earlier this week and has won five straight since a loss to North Carolina.
Brandon Bowdry scored all of his 24 points in the second half for Eastern Michigan (5-3), which had a three-game win streak stopped.
Ohio State scored the game's first five points and never trailed. The lead quickly reached 12-2 just 3 1/2 minutes into the contest on a three-pointer by Diebler, but the Buckeyes got a scare a few moments later when Turner left the floor.
Even without Turner, the Buckeyes continued to cruise. A three-pointer by Lighty gave Ohio State its first 20-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the half, and a Hill layup four minutes later made it 49-19.
The Buckeyes carried a 62-25 cushion to the intermission behind 15 points from Diebler and 13 from Hill. The Eagles committed 17 first-half turnovers, two more than their average for an entire game.
It was more of the same in the second half and the only question was whether the Buckeyes would eclipse the school record of 121 points scored against George Mason on January 8, 1995. Ohio State reached 100 with five minutes left, but took the air out of the ball down the stretch.
Diebler made 7-of-10 shots, including 6-of-8 three-point tries...William Buford contributed 16 points and 10 assists in the victory...Carlos Medlock was Eastern Michigan's only other double-figure scorer with 13...This was just the second meeting between the schools. Ohio State posted 58-54 win in the first back in 1982.
- Via Sports Network
Evan Turner Will Play Against Indiana Tonight
When Evan Turner first injured his back in a horrific fall while trying to dunk on December 5, it was assumed that he’d miss eight weeks. It’s four weeks later now, and Jeff Goodman of Fox is reporting that Turner will make his return to the court.
Let’s just let that sink in for a moment. Evan Turner is officially coming back a month earlier than expected. A month!
A part of me wants to bow down to Turner for displaying some incredible toughness and resolve. The other part of me, though, cynically believes Turner’s only coming back to help revive his declining NBA Draft stock. Once seen as a sure-fire top-five pick, Turner slipped to tenth in Chad Ford’s Top 100 rankings while out. The only way for his stock to rise is to play, even through pain.
At least we know Ohio State will benefit from having Turner back. I think we can all agree on that.
Jan 06 12:51p by Mike Prada - 0 comments