Ohio State will have its biggest star on the floor for Thursday’s night game at Illinois.
E.J. Liddell is listed as a starter for Thursday’s game at Illinois and will play despite being listed as questionable after “dealing with the flu for a couple of days,” according to an Ohio State spokesperson.
Liddell participated in warmups with the team before the game, which is scheduled for a 9 p.m. tip-off in Champaign.
E.J. Liddell is warming up with his teammates and getting some shots up with about an hour until tip-off. pic.twitter.com/tLAUzzF69J
— Jack Emerson (@jackemers) February 25, 2022
Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann said earlier this week that a key player had been under-the-weather during Monday’s game at Indiana, though he chose not to specify who that player was when asked for clarification on Wednesday, saying he would defer to Thursday’s availability report.
“He did a great job battling through it,” Holtmann said Wednesday. “It didn’t really hit him until right before tip, honestly, and he told me about it in the midst of the game, so hopefully he’ll continue to get his energy back where it needs to.”
Liddell scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and played 43 minutes in Ohio State’s 80-69 overtime win over the Hoosiers.
The only other players listed on the availability report for Thursday’s game are Justice Sueing and Seth Towns, who are both out with long-term injuries.
