Seth Towns won't be playing this season, after all.
Despite back surgery in September, the sixth-year forward had plans to rejoin the Buckeyes at some point during the 2021-22 season. That plan has changed, however, as he will now sit out the remainder of the season as he continues to rehab his back injury, Chris Holtmann announced on Tuesday.
Holtmann said that Ohio State's team doctors advised Towns that he should focus on his rehab rather than trying to get back on the court before the end of the season.
Despite the apparent setback, Holtmann said “this is not a career-ending injury for Seth” and that Towns is eligible to return to play for the Buckeyes next season.
“I'm optimistic his days in a Buckeye uniform aren't over.”– Chris Holtmann on Seth Towns
“He's had a go of rough injuries,” Holtmann said of Towns. “He's a terrific young man and has really worked at this thing.”
This marks the fourth-straight year Towns has missed extended time due to an injury. After he was named the Ivy League Player of the Year in the 2017-18 season, Towns missed the subsequent two years entirely due to ongoing knee injuries. Towns then missed the first six games of this past season for the Buckeyes while continuing to rehab injuries.
Despite the injury and the rehab, Towns continues to be a part of the team and Holtmann hopes to see him back on the court for the Buckeyes next season.
“It's important for him to represent this university, it means something to him, he's a Columbus kid,” Holtmann said. “I'm optimistic his days in a Buckeye uniform aren't over.”
