COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Freshman Sean Tucker has become the second Ohio State center to be lost to an injury in the last two days.
Tucker, a 6-foot-7 backup from Mansfield, sustained what Ohio State officials termed a possible tear of his right patellar tendon. Tests on his knee were performed Thursday, prior to the Buckeyes’ game against 17th-ranked Indiana.
Ohio State, however, upset the Hoosiers by a 73-67 score. Buckeyes guard Damon Stringer scored 18 points and pulled down five rebounds in the game.
Buckeyes coach Randy Ayers said Tucker would definitely be lost for the Buckeyes’ games against Indiana and Saturday at home against Wisconsin. Team trainer Mike Bordner said he would know more about Tucker’s condition when test results come back in the next day or so.
Tucker, averaging 2.3 points and 1.5 rebounds in nine minutes per game, said he believed he sustained the injury during Wednesday’s practice.
Before that same practice, Ohio State announced that starting center Jermaine Tate would be lost for at least two games after complaining of heart palpitations.
Team doctors are awaiting results from tests administered Wednesday.
Tate was second on the team in points (14.1), rebounds (6.4) and minutes (32) per game.
The Gophers play Ohio State on Feb. 19 at Williams Arena.