Trevor Thompson Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech big man Trevor Thompson still has a shot to play for the Buckeyes this season, but he won't be with Ohio State for its team bonding trip to the Bahamas that begins on Tuesday.
(Associated Press)
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State big man Trevor Thompson may have jumped the gun when Tweeting that he isn't going to be able to play for the Buckeyes this year.
The Virginia Tech Transfer still has a shot, coach Thad Matta said Monday.
Thompson was denied the chance to go with Ohio State to their team bonding trip to the Bahamas, which begins on Tuesday, but that doesn't mean the NCAA has made up its mind on the hardship waiver to gain immediate eligibility this year.
"Yeah, it was more along the lines, we didn't know what to expect," Matta said. "I think at times they sit over there and flip coins and say, 'He's good, he's not good, he's good, he's not good.'
"We didn't know what to think or what would happen. It is what it is and we'll look at it when every decision is made when it is made. Then we'll change our mindsets and go from there."
Thompson filed the hardship waiver after transferring to Ohio State this summer. The appeal was based on his father, former major-league pitcher Ryan Thompson, who at one point played for the Cleveland Indians, undergoing neck surgery and Thompson's desire to be closer to his family home in Indianapolis.
Matta said it would be a help to have Thompson this season, but he'll certainly be at the center of the Buckeyes' plans during the 2015-16 season.
"There's two types of redshirts – redshirts who just get through until they can play and guys that have great redshirt seasons," Matta said. "We need Trevor to have a great redshirt year if that's what happens."