Troy's Terwilliger may sit out OSU opener
Buckeyes' backup big man recovering from appendectomy
By
Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
COLUMBUS | An appendectomy last week may have given Ohio State's Matt Terwilliger relief from cramps and abdominal pain, but that didn't put an end to all of his suffering.
The backup center from Troy was sidelined for the Big Ten tournament, and he was sorely missed. Starter Terence Dials succumbed to foul trouble in the championship game Sunday, lasting just 22 minutes, and the short-handed Buckeyes eventually wore down in a 67-60 loss to Iowa.
After averaging more than 10 minutes per game, Terwilliger was reduced to being a spectator for three straight outings.
"It was hard to watch — especially on Sunday," he said.
The Buckeyes will play a first-round NCAA tourney game against Davidson on Friday. And while the 6-foot-9 Terwilliger is progressing on schedule, he may not be recovered in time to see action in the opener.
"This is my first chance to play in the NCAA tournament, but I'm not going to rush back and risk a bigger injury," the sophomore said. "I feel pretty good, but it's more about taking a direct shot on that incision."
Terwilliger's father, John, a health teacher and girls golf coach at Troy High School, doesn't expect Matt to see action Friday, and the odds of playing in the second round Sunday may not be in his favor, either.
"There are still some stitches, and it's still a bit tight," the elder Terwilliger said. "He says every day it gets better. But it's that jump, get-your-hands-above-your-head stretching thing (that's a problem)."
John Terwilliger would prefer that his son work on building up stamina for a possible Sweet 16 berth instead of trying to gut out an ambitious comeback.
"He would like to play. That's what he wants to do. We'll just have to see what happens in the next 48 (hours)," the elder Terwilliger said. "But it's difficult to 'gut out' your body's healing. Your brain's ready. Your heart's ready. But the tissue has to fix itself."
After being rated among the top 75 players nationally as a senior at Troy, Terwilliger appeared in just 15 games as a freshman at OSU. But he spent much of the offseason buffing up in the weight room and then made a fruitful overseas tour last summer with a hand-picked Big Ten squad.
"This year, he felt he was developing an identity with the team," John Terwilliger said. "And to sit and not be much help (during his recuperation), he doesn't like that much."
The Buckeyes opted for an eight-player rotation during their drive to the Big Ten regular-season title, and Terwilliger's absence would leave them without an experienced inside player on the bench.
OSU coach Thad Matta said he won't make a decision on the status of his defensive stalwart until just before Friday's tipoff.
"The one thing we're not going to is jeopardize his health for the game of basketball," Matta said. "But he's been doing cardiovascular stuff, and hopefully we'll get him back for at least a few minutes.
"He's very important. He's come a long way and made a lot of strides. He's a very valuable part of what we're doing."
Contact Doug Harris at 225-2125.