Kyle Young returns to form. So do Buckeyes
MINNEAPOLIS — For the first time in what felt like weeks, Ohio State looked like the Ohio State it had been before COVID-19 threw the season for a loop.
Not coincidentally, for the first time in what felt like weeks, Kyle Young looked like the Kyle Young he had been before COVID-19 hit the roster as well.
The headlines from Thursday night’s win at Minneapolis were dominated by E.J. Liddell and coach Chris Holtmann, and rightfully so. Liddell scored his 1,000th career point, led the Buckeyes in scoring (23) and rebounds (career-high 15) to help his coach notch his 100th win at Ohio State. It was a milestone night for both Buckeyes, who got to celebrate the occasion together and with a win.
Kyle Young: Returning to early December form
Powering the way was a vintage performance from Young, the fifth-year senior and team captain who admittedly hadn’t been himself for a while. After the virus kept the Buckeyes off the court for 22 days, Young missed the first game back with a non-COVID illness. He finished with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting against the Golden Gophers, his most prolific scoring output since putting up 18 against Towson on Dec. 8.
That was nearly two months ago. And while scoring is only part of what Young brings to the Buckeyes in addition to energy and hustle, Thursday night’s game was the most vintage Young performance in a while.
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“I’m not gonna lie: I’m getting back into my-type shape that I’m used to, being able to play at a little bit higher level,” he said. “That’s just putting in consistent work every day, these guys pushing me, pushing each other in practice. I’m going to continue to try to do that and give them whatever I can when it comes game night.”
Giving whatever he can has been a given for Young throughout his career. While Liddell is on track to become the first player recruited, signed and developed by Holtmann to become an NBA draft pick, Young is the day-one original. While injuries and illness have occasionally kept him out of the lineup, Ohio State is 100-49 since he joined the program in the summer of 2017.
So is Holtmann.
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Young has been on the roster for every game of the Holtmann era, from the 2017-18 season-opening win against Robert Morris to this Minnesota win, making it not much of a surprise that he shouted out Holtmann for his 100th win without being prompted.
Told that, Holtmann smiled.
“Yeah, well, he’s like the son I never had,” the coach said. “He’s a really, really special kid to us and our program. He just has been so special to us, for our four-plus years.”
In last year’s Big Ten tournament win against the Boilermakers, Young had 18 first-half points on 4-of-5 3-point shooting before suffering a concussion that prematurely ended his season.
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For Ohio State to find success at No. 6 Purdue on Sunday, Young will have to make a similar impact to what he showed at Minnesota. Entering Thursday’s game, Young had averaged 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 11 for 24 (45.8%) from the floor in his five games since the COVID pause. In addition to his scoring, Young had four rebounds, four assists, no turnovers and one highlight-reel chase-down block.
Scoring 14 points each night isn’t the top priority for Young. Looking like himself again, and continuing to assert himself as a team leader, is atop Holtmann’s priority list for the rest of the season.
“It’s incredibly important,” Holtmann said. “He’s really smart as a player. Doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. Plays hard. How about the block he had there late? Chases balls. This is his team. This is E.J.’s team. This is their team. It’s what you want from an older guy.”
That, and a maybe a victorious ride into the March sunset — or at least out of Mackey Arena on Sunday.
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