Zed Key appears to have avoided a serious injury after going down in the final minute of Ohio State’s win over Iowa.
While the Buckeyes had their most impressive performance in weeks with a 93-77 win over the Hawkeyes, the game ended on a concerning note when Zed Key suffered an apparent knee injury after landing awkwardly on a dunk in the game’s final minute.
Key initially attempted to run back down to the other end of the floor to play defense, but ended up falling to the floor and grabbing his knee in pain. He was helped back to the locker room by two members of Ohio State’s medical staff.
Zed Key went down with an apparent knee injury late in the second half against Iowa and was helped to the locker room to an applause from the home crowd. pic.twitter.com/IBKrbV8Dvo
— Lantern Sports (@LanternSports) January 21, 2023
Fortunately for Key, Chris Holtmann said after the game that Key did not appear to suffer a serious injury, though Holtmann said Key “did feel some pain” and did not have a specific diagnosis yet.
“It does not look like a long-term injury as of now,” Holtmann said.
Key himself tweeted Saturday evening that he is “good.”
Im good Buckeye Nation!!!!!
— Zed Key (@iamzedkey) January 21, 2023
It’s already been an injury-plagued season for Key, who has been battling a shoulder injury that forced him to leave the Buckeyes’ loss to Purdue on Jan. 5 and miss their subsequent game against Maryland. He has been wearing a brace on that injured shoulder since his return to the lineup.
Despite that injury, Key has been one of Ohio State’s best players, averaging 12.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He’s certainly been one of the Buckeyes’ most important players, as freshman Felix Okpara is their only other true big man. It will hurt the Buckeyes if Key has to miss any time as a result of his latest setback, but they can breathe a sigh of relief with early indications being he will be able to return to action soon.
