The Basketball Buckeyes play at Michigan State Tuesday night and will be a little closer to full strength as sophomore point guard JaQuan Lyle has returned to the team. Lyle left the Buckeyes and rushed home to Evansville, Indiana last Thursday to be with his sister Jala, who slipped into a coma after complications following child birth.
According to Ohio State coach Thad Matta, Lyle was with his sister over the weekend when she came out of the coma. She remains hospitalized.
How much Lyle will contribute against the Spartans is a mystery. Matta, at the start of Monday's press conference was unaware that Lyle had returned. As reporters began taking to Twitter, noting that Lyle's status was uncertain, Lyle responded to Dispatch Buckeye hoops reporter Adam Jardy, saying he was in the locker room getting taped up for practice
"Oh good," Matta responded when informed that Lyle was back. How much Lyle practiced while dealing with his serious family situation is unknown but his presence will certainly help. It was Lyle, in Columbus, who led the Buckeyes to a win over Michigan State last month when he scored a game high 22 points.
To see Thad Matta's press conference Monday, click on the link here.