Ohio State guard Scotty Middleton has been suspended for the Penn State game due to a violation of team rules.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday without a key player in their lineup.
Freshman guard Scotty Middleton has been suspended for the game due to a violation of team rules, according to a report from the Columbus Dispatch. Middleton has been a notable contributor, averaging 4.7 points with a 40 percent success rate from 3-point range and 1.8 rebounds per game in just under 20 minutes of play. His proficiency from beyond the arc has been particularly valuable for the team, especially during momentum-building phases.
Despite Middleton’s absence, Ohio State’s head coach, Chris Holtmann, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to adapt. Holtmann emphasized the need for the next player in line to step up in the face of such situations.
Originally hailing from Wichita, Kansas, Middleton is the eighth-highest minute-averaging player on the team and plays a significant role in the Buckeyes’ backcourt alongside sophomores Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle Jr., as well as senior Dale Bonner.
Middleton, a highly regarded forward from Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas, was recruited as the No. 60 overall player and the No. 11 small forward in high school, according to 247Sports.
The Buckeyes are currently on a three-game losing streak in Big Ten play and have encountered challenges in closing out games since the beginning of the new year. Notably, Ohio State suffered a loss to Penn State on December 9, 2023, when they squandered an 18-point lead and were defeated 83-80. This marks their third consecutive loss to Penn State.
The matchup between the Buckeyes and the Lions tipped off at noon, streaming on the Big Ten Network.
