Ohio State will be missing their sixth man, freshman wing Scotty Middleton, in the upcoming game against Iowa on the road. Middleton, a significant contributor off the bench, is sidelined due to a minor lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day according to an Ohio State spokesperson.
With an average of 16.6 minutes per game, Middleton holds the third-highest playing time among non-starters and is the leading freshman in this regard for the Buckeyes. His season averages include 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of 37.5%.
This isn’t Middleton’s first absence this season, as he previously missed the game against Penn State on January 20 due to a suspension for an undisclosed violation of team rules. He returned for the following contest against Nebraska.
Hailing from a strong high school background, Middleton was one of the top 60 recruits in Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class, contributing to the team’s No. 8 ranking in the national team recruiting standings.
In Middleton’s absence, fellow freshman and forward Devin Royal might take on a more significant role on the wing for the Buckeyes, and guard Dale Bonner is another potential candidate to see an increase in playing time. Additionally, this situation could provide an opportunity for sophomore guard Bowen Hardman to get more involved.
The game between Ohio State and Iowa is scheduled to tip-off in Iowa City at 7 p.m. on FS1.
