It's a sad day for the Ohio State faithful, as it has been confirmed that forward Zed Key will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Get the full story here!

It was confirmed today that Ohio State forward Zed Key will miss the rest of the regular season after having to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. The news comes as a major blow for the Buckeyes, who rely on Key's contributions in order to compete at their highest potential.

Get the Details on Zed Key's Injury.

Wednesday morning Ohio State's head coach Chris Holtmann revealed that forward Zed Key had sustained a shoulder injury, and will miss the remainder of the 2023 season. Key will undergo surgery at an unspecified time to repair a strained labrum in his shoulder, and is expected to make a full recovery in five months. He is set to begin his rehabilitation process immediately and the Ohio State front office expects him to be fully healthy ahead of next season.

Ohio State's Response to Losing Key.

The Ohio State coaching staff is deeply saddened by the news that Key will miss the remainder of the season, but are doing their best to remain focused on winning games. The team is already working to adjust their offensive and defensive schemes to better adapt to the absence of Key. While the loss of a key contributor will certainly hurt them, they are determined not to allow it to derail their goals for this season.

What to Expect from the Buckeyes Moving Forward.

Without Key's size and presence in the middle of the paint, it is likely that the team will shift to a more perimeter-oriented approach on offense. This move should create more open looks from beyond the arc and allow his teammates to better display their sharpshooting accuracy. On defense, the team will have to adjust from a post-oriented scheme to more of an aggressive perimeter stance as they look to limit opponents’ outside looks and make them take contested shots.

Potential Implications for the Rest of Their Season.

While the news of Key's injury has certainly been devastating to Ohio State's hopes for a turn-around, there are ways in which the team can look to offset their losses. Playing different lineups and adjusting their style of play accordingly could help take away some of the sting from his absence. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for reserves like Eugene Brown III and Felix Okpara to get more playing time if needed. It will be essential for the Buckeyes to continue improving through the final stretch of Big Ten play and adjust to the new circumstances of competing without Key if they want to make their case for a NIT bid come March.

Strategies to Help Fill the Void Roster-Wise.

Ohio State will need to take a few strategic approaches to help fill the void left by Key's absence. First, they must look to maximize their talent and adjust their lineups by distributing playing time more evenly. This means that veteran players such as Justic Sueing and Isaac Likelele will have increased roles and moments of impact in order for them to remain competitive. Additionally, it would also be wise for head coach Chris Holtmann to use his freshman class deeper into games rather than keeping them on the bench — giving them experience-building opportunities while still earning valuable wins.