Ohio State introduced a new men's basketball coach on Monday morning. But one of the biggest pieces of Chris Holtmann's new roster returned many days earlier.
Forward Keita Bates-Diop said after Holtmann's introductory press conference at the Jerome Schottenstein Center that doctors cleared him to resume full basketball activity a few weeks ago. The Buckeyes ruled Bates-Diop out for the remainder of the 2016-17 season in early January with a stress fracture in his leg.
“I got cleared a few weeks ago. I'm making my way back,” Bates-Diop said Monday. “I gotta get my conditioning back, obviously, but I've been cleared to play and work out.