Ohio State men's basketball | Jackson and Young limited in practice due to injuries
![Ohio State Buckeyes guard C.J. Jackson (3) steals the ball from Rutgers Scarlet Knights forward Ron Harper Jr. (24) during the 2nd half of their game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio on February 2, 2019. [Kyle Robertson]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/2019/02/22/NBUX/ghows-OH-8281cfec-668c-7e58-e053-0100007f18fb-0cd3dc81.jpeg?width=660&height=509&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Ohio State is “a little banged up,” in the words of coach Chris Holtmann, as it heads to face No. 24 Maryland on Saturday afternoon.
Senior guard C.J. Jackson, who has averaged a team-high 30.3 minutes per game and is second in scoring at 12.5 points per game, has been limited in practice since suffering an injury to his left shoulder during the second half of Wednesday’s 63-49 home win against Northwestern.
“C.J. was struggling a little bit yesterday, not able to practice much,” Holtmann said Friday inside the team’s practice gym at Value City Arena.
>>Video: Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann previews Maryland
Last Sunday at Michigan State, Jackson rolled his ankle on a drive through the lane early in the second half but showed few ill effects early against the Wildcats. He finished with a season-low five points while only playing 18:32, marking only the second time this season he has gone consecutive games without scoring in double figures.
Asked if Jackson would be a game-time decision, Holtmann said, “I’m expecting him to play, but he’s got to show that, for his sake and our team’s sake, that he’s physically able to do it.”
Sophomore Kyle Young, meanwhile, has now played in five straight games after missing four with a stress fracture to his lower right leg and has been similarly limited in practice.
“Kyle has been day-to-day and has really been limited in how much he can practice,” Holtmann said. “To be honest, he’s not practiced much at all. Those are two important guys.”
Everybody else is healthy save for customary fatigue this time of season, he said.
Young’s situation likely won’t change for the remainder of the season, Holtmann said. He’s not on a minutes restriction, although the injury was bothering him in the Northwestern game and then his minutes were restricted.
“They’re trying to monitor that thing to the point where we don’t have to sit him out for an extended (time),” he said. “I think it’s going to be that way the rest of the way. It’s better than not having him at all. It’s not as good as having him at full strength, but he’s had a good attitude, a good approach. It’s unfortunate for him, but hopefully he can continue to provide energy for us.”
@AdamJardy