The Buckeyes are on track to return to action Tuesday.
After a COVID-19 outbreak in the program forced Ohio State to cancel its past two games, the Buckeyes returned to practice Sunday evening and are scheduled to take the court against New Orleans at the Schottenstein Center Tuesday, per a team spokesperson.
Ohio State canceled its CBS Sports Classic meeting with Kentucky, scheduled for Dec. 18, and subsequently called off a matchup with UT Martin that was slated for this past Tuesday.
“I think rust, I think you fear that the timing becomes an issue,” Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann said on 97.1 The Fan Monday. “There’s no question it’s a concern, that’s why we fully intend to play the game on the 28th and expect to play the game on the 28th because we need to get some game work. … Jake (Diebler)’s talked to his brother, Jon, about coming in and working and scrimmaging if we’re low on numbers. But some of that will be determined on the return to play progression for guys as we return from Christmas.”
By tip-off time Tuesday, it will have been 17 days since the Buckeyes last played a game, having beaten Wisconsin at home on Dec. 11.
"Obviously we’re gonna have to shake some rust off, because that’s a long time to not play from the Wisconsin game to the New Orleans game,” Holtmann said.
