My son had a concussion last year during a football game in mid October. His symptoms (headaches, sensitivity to loud noises and sensitivity to light) didn't fully go away until mid November. He needed a dim, quiet room for a long while. Everyone is different. Many NFL players don't miss a game. The fact that Ayo is traveling, cheering his team on and being active (at least in shoot around)....I'm not a doctor, but those seem to be all good signs.
Pregame: Illinois at Ohio State, Saturday, March 6th, 3:00pm CT, ESPN
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Prior to the Illini game yesterday, ESPN showed stats that Baylor has 5 guys shooting 3's at over 40% clip or better. Would be a very interesting game if we play them again at sometime in the dance.
But when you add in the non-non-Illini teams we get another 2 wins.
Analytics-wise, the two players who have significantly underperformed (or been missing altogether) over the Buckeyes losing streak have been...
Ahrens
Kyle Young (missed a game due to concussion and two mediocre games otherwise)
Ahrens is a one-trick 3 point shooting pony, but when he's involved, it really creates room for Liddell inside. We made some mistakes leaving him open on the fast break and secondary break and he burned us.
And Young hasn't looked right lately. If he's crashing the offensive boards, you have to put a body on him that you can't throw at Liddell.
Take those two away and the Buckeyes don't have nearly the same personality on offense.
That being said, Zed Key looked really good against the Spartans. Maybe we'll see more of him on Saturday to try and impact rebounding.
Ahrens
Kyle Young (missed a game due to concussion and two mediocre games otherwise)
Ahrens is a one-trick 3 point shooting pony, but when he's involved, it really creates room for Liddell inside. We made some mistakes leaving him open on the fast break and secondary break and he burned us.
And Young hasn't looked right lately. If he's crashing the offensive boards, you have to put a body on him that you can't throw at Liddell.
Take those two away and the Buckeyes don't have nearly the same personality on offense.
That being said, Zed Key looked really good against the Spartans. Maybe we'll see more of him on Saturday to try and impact rebounding.
pruman91
- interviewing new NL's daily....I really really am
Young had a concussion and you are correct, he isn't moving as well as earlier.....
Zed Key concerns me a lot....he is agile and active in the paint and could be a major factor in the game again...I don;t look for liddell to be left open on the 3 pt line like before......
Washington is a scoring machine....might sneak into consideration for 1st team B1G.......better than M. Carr, in my humble opinion
Zed Key concerns me a lot....he is agile and active in the paint and could be a major factor in the game again...I don;t look for liddell to be left open on the 3 pt line like before......
Washington is a scoring machine....might sneak into consideration for 1st team B1G.......better than M. Carr, in my humble opinion
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
The only things that could potentially matter:
1) If Michigan really faces a setback and gets swept by MSU somehow, we will be playing for a Big Ten title.
2) If we beat OSU, I would think that even a "disappointing" BTT earns us a 1-seed in the NCAAs, which is both awesome for our potential for a run and also a cool status symbol. Past the Blue Bloods, I would be curious how many other programs have earned four No. 1 seeds in their modern histories (1989, 2001, 2005, 2021)? Seems like a lot to me, anyway.
However, I mostly agree with you. The team is clicking and getting better, and there is no reason to have Ayo back on the floor until he is 100% ready. When he is ready, I have very little doubt that he will come back and put on a show, and that Illini team will be a sight to see. Let's go beat OSU without him, give him a little more rest and then go win the BTT!
Ignatius Shang
- Columbia, MO
Well, I remembered that after we lost to Maryland and OSU, fans reacted "it was like a win" when the game against MSU was postponed lol
Calillini
Now appearing in Tampa
Where are all the Belo haters now?
Attachments
They are waiting for the next small failures to happen with anyone.
No one hates Curbelo. I think Curbelo really matured quickly, though. Without Ayo, Curbelo has been way more in control, and hasn't got stuck in the lane, as much. He has to be All B1G freshmen team this year. When his jump shot gets going and he puts some more muscle on, he's All B1G.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
FIFY
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
In both the video of Jake hitting the 25 3’s in a row, and the postgame celebration in the locker room, Ayo is literally jumping up and down continuously, shouting and cheering with everyone else. I’m thinking he’s feeling ok...
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Yeah, so Brad finally fessed up, huh --- during the post-game interview.
Ayo is a fierce competitor. The decision for him not to play is probably the medical staff, not Ayo. Remember that Minnesota game recently with that center that could barely get up and down the court with the leg injury? I would hope that BU and the staff would never take those kind of chances with the Illini players.
Mizzou has pretty much taken revenge on themselves by losing 4 of the last 5. Standard Cuonzo season, start strong and then faaade.
I think Ayo should sit this one out too
The thing is, I'd like him to get back in the flow. Not sure how many games that would take, but I'd like to see at least 2. That means you can only guarantee that if he plays this one and the first round of the BTT.
IlliniRon
Illini Basketball Fan Forever
- Ft Worth, Texas
After watching how tough our Illini are playing right now, I think we should be able to beat OSU and finish the season in a pretty spectacular fashion. I'm looking forward to the game and I doubt Ayo plays. This team is deep and Coach Underwood's system is working.
sacraig
- The desert
Mizzou is a very veteran squad that was playing at or near their ceiling from the outset. Essentially, they were more insulated than most against the effects of COVID nuking in-person practices over the summer. They didn't have a lot higher to go while other teams passed them as they started to jell.
Also, we played like absolute garbage against them and I am still mad about it.
Why has Ayo not playing become everyone’s “take” (I so hate that newly popular passive aggressive phrase)? I thought the reporting was he was denied clearance very late before the UM game and that both he and Coach were pissed about it. How does that morph into he won’t play the next game 4 days later, and many even saying “shouldn’t””.
Deleted member 747802
D
Guest
Agree with this. As long as the medical staff, Ayo, and his family feel he is ready we should want him on the court. Why would we not? We only have 3 guaranteed games left this season. Why would we not want to see Ayo in as many of them as possible? Unbelievable that some would not.
hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
more bewildering was some saying that he shouldn't play until the BTT even prior to the UM game, when little was known about his injury. He should play as soon as he's cleared and is comfortable with playing. The only reason to say otherwise would be to suggest that the team is somehow better with him out (we're not) or that playing would put him at significant risk of further injury, which would imply some level of medical expertise on his specific, unique injury (which hasn't been released publicly).
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