Turner Sidelined 8 Weeks

"There is nothing I think Evan Turner can't do, including leading this team to a Final Four."

That is what I wrote last week in my Ohio St b-ball preview. Apparently there is one thing ET can't do, and that's play with three broken vertebrae in his back. After a dunk in last Saturday's 111-60 victory over Eastern Michigan, Turner landed awkwardly on his back and was immediately taken to this hospital, where the fractures were then found.

This is very similar to last season, when the Bucks lost David Lighty for the season after he broke his foot in the seventh game. That opened the door for Turner, who became the main scoring option for OSU and responded by having an incredible season. Hopefully Lighty can return the favor this season, but he will need some help from Jon Diebler (who had 21 points in the game where Turner was lost) and others.

If the timetable is correct, ET will be returning in mid-February, in time for the last 6-8 regular season games. Hopefully that will give him enough time to get back into the swing of things before the Big Ten and NCAA tourneys. This is really a shame to see, because Turner and the Buckeyes had looked very good to start the season, and had fans thinking big things.

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