Ohio State announced Wednesday evening that guard Madison Greene will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury in the Buckeyes’ win over South Florida on Dec. 21.
Greene exited that game late in the fourth quarter after falling down on the court, and was unable to put any weight on her left leg after being helped up. Ohio State conducted tests once returning home from the San Diego Invitational before announcing her loss for the season.
This is the second-consecutive season-ending knee injury for Greene, who missed all of last season after suffering a knee injury just days prior to Ohio State’s season opener.
Greene had appeared in 12 games this season and started seven times, filling in at point guard while Jacy Sheldon works through her own lower-leg injury. Greene played over 30 minutes per game, averaging 10.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals on 48.3 percent shooting from the field and 56.0 percent shooting from deep.
“It’s really tough,” Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff said after the Buckeyes’ win over Northwestern on Wednesday. “I feel terrible for her. She’s an incredible kid and she’s worked incredibly hard to get back. She was playing so well and being so impactful on our team, but we can’t control that.
“She’s down, but she loves this team so much,” he continued. “She was really involved in the game tonight and she’ll continue to be as we move forward.”
Sheldon entered the season as the starting point guard for Ohio State but had relinquished the role to Greene while recovering from a lower-leg injury which has left Sheldon “week-to-week” in regards to a potential return.
Guard Rikki Harris has filled in at point guard when Sheldon and Greene were both out over the last two games, with guard Taylor Mikesell also picking up some responsibilities when Harris is out of the game.
McGuff said that the plan moving forward will be for Harris to remain at point guard while the Buckeyes await the return of Sheldon and handle the loss of Greene for the second season in a row.
“She’s a really good playmaker,” guard Taylor Thierry said of Harris. “She’s able to handle the ball, look up the court and see who’s open, really just a good facilitator. It’s helpful and it showed in this game (against Northwestern).”
