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The Ohio State Buckeyes got some tough news on Thursday night as the program announced that star guard DJ Carton would be out for Saturday’s home game against Indiana. The freshman will miss the game due to personal reasons.
Head coach Chris Holtmann had the following to say in a statement:
“D.J. remains a valued member of our program and we will continue to love and support him. Please respect the family’s privacy in this matter.”
Carton is just a freshman this season, but is having a big year so far. He’s averaging 10.4 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.8 rebounds a game and scored double-digits in four of the team’s last six games. While he hasn’t necessarily started every game, Carton has played more than half of Ohio State’s minutes this season.
Losing a player like Carton would always be tough, but it stings a little tougher right now for the Buckeyes. The team is really struggling right now, having gone 2-6 over its last eight games and is just 4-9 dating back to mid-December. Holding serve against Indiana at home on Saturday is crucial and it will be a bit harder without Carton.
It’s unknown when Carton might return, but Buckeye fans will certainly hope that he can get back on the floor as soon as possible.