The state of Ohio will have no title on Saturday.
Striker Kyle Young was dropped from the Big Ten tournament semifinal against Michigan.
Kyle Young from @OhioStateHoops will not be available for the game against Michigan today. He suffered a concussion in the second half against Purdue on Friday. Kyle has entered Ohio’s medical protocols and will be evaluated daily.
– Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) March 13, 2021
He inadvertently elbowed striker Trevion Williams in the head in the second half of the Buckeyes’ 87-78 victory against Purdue, causing him to leave the game after some possession. Chief sports trainer Brad Watson assessed him in and behind the bench area, taking Young back to the locker room. After the game, Holtmann confirmed that his striker was being assessed for a concussion.
It is unclear how long he will remain unavailable or if there is a chance that he will play Sunday’s Big Ten championship game if the state of Ohio advances another round. According to Ohio State spokesman Dan Wallenberg, Young “has entered Ohio’s medical protocols and will be evaluated daily.”
Anyway, Ohio State will have to win without Young – who drew 18 points, the best of his career, against Purdue – on Sunday. Defending the Michigan front line, led by center pivot Hunter Dickinson, will largely be a two-man job for sophomore EJ Liddell and freshman Zed Key. These two will have to play significant minutes for the Buckeyes to guarantee a frustrated victory and move on to the tournament championship.
Young has now suffered two concussions this season, before losing the Buckeyes game on February 25 against Michigan State after being shot in the head in the final seconds of Ohio State’s first game against Michigan.
Michigan will not have a key player for Saturday’s game, either, as the Wolverines announced Saturday morning that Isaiah Livers – his second highest scorer – is out indefinitely due to an injury to his right foot.