Ohio State’s Scotty Middleton suspended for violation of team rules

Ohio State will be shorthanded when it hosts Penn State today.

Freshman wing Scotty Middleton, a primary rotation player, will not be with the Buckeyes due to a violation of team regulations. His situation going forward is unknown, but he will not be with the squad for the game against the Nittany Lions.

Middleton ranks sixth on the squad in scoring at 4.7 points per game and is one of eight players to average at least 16 minutes per game. He’s a critical part of Ohio State’s defense, with his 6-7, 190-pound size allowing him to switch screens and guard various positions.

“He’s done some excellent things on both ends,” Ohio State men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann said of Middleton on Friday. “She shot the ball brilliantly and provided us a lift on defense as well.”

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He missed the team’s win against Central Michigan on Nov. 29 due to injury and was questionable due to an ankle injury but participated in Monday’s defeat against Michigan. His absence certainly means greater playing time for the likes of starter Evan Mahaffey and reserves Dale Bonner and Devin Royal, depending on which lines the Buckeyes will deploy.