Ohio State forward Keita Bates-Diop out for the season

In the aftermath of a gut-wrenching season changing loss to Purdue, 76-75, Ohio State fans found out the road to recovery just got an awful lot tougher.

During Thad Matta’s postgame media availability, the coach of the 10-5 Buckeyes, losers of two straight in Big Ten play, announced that junior forward Keita Bates-Diop would miss the rest of the 2016-17 season with what was previously described as a lower leg injury. Matta called it a “stress fracture” during his postgame press conference:

It’s been a harrowing fall and winter of basketball for the man affectionately known by fans as KBD. After suffering from mono, Bates-Diop missed time with an ankle injury and has struggled to get back on the court before today’s apparent season ending setback.

The Normal, IL product helped the Buckeyes on both ends of the glass and with outstanding length and athleticism, often served as a strong number three or number four option scoring the ball. For a team unable to find much in the area of offensive consistency, it’s almost impossible to see how a Buckeye team which pretty clearly needed Bates-Diop’s presence and leadership will make up for his absence.

A long year of Ohio State basketball seems like it may have just gotten even longer.