Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff said Wednesday that guard Jacy Sheldon remains day-to-day ahead of the Buckeyes’ opening matchup in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament on Friday.
Sheldon has been out for the majority of the season while rehabbing a lower-leg injury but has been working toward a return as of late. She played in Ohio State’s loss to Maryland on Feb. 5 but has been held out of games since then while continuing to practice with the team, with McGuff hoping to have her available for the “stretch run” beginning with tournament play.
“She’s engaged every day whether she’s practicing or not,” he said. “She’s really great about that. She’s been a great teammate and awesome on the bench or in practice knowing she wasn’t playing, and certainly chomping at the bit to get back out there.”
In Sheldon’s place, Ohio State has seen continued stellar play from guards Taylor Mikesell and Taylor Thierry, as well as guard Rikki Harris, who has stepped into the starting lineup for the Buckeyes in Sheldon’s absence.
McGuff also said that Sheldon, who is in her fourth year at Ohio State, has yet to make a decision on using a fifth season of eligibility due to COVID-19. Sheldon did not participate in Ohio State’s Senior Day in the regular-season finale against Maryland on Feb. 24, but he said they have yet to make a final decision.
“Haven’t decided for sure yet,” he said. “We’ve said, ‘Hey, when we get through the last game, we’ll sit down and figure it out,’ I’ll get any information she might need from the WNBA. Nothing for sure yet.”
Ohio State will open play in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament on Friday, entering as the No, 4 seed and set to take on either No. 5 Michigan, No. 12 Minnesota or No. 13 Penn State.
