The Ohio State men’s basketball team will enter Big Ten play this week with a roster thinner than the one that crafted a 9-1 record thus far.
The university confirmed Sunday afternoon that freshman Anthony Crater’s 12-minute appearance in the 15th-ranked Buckeyes’ 76-48 loss at home to West Virginia on Saturday afternoon was his last in scarlet and gray.
He was released from his scholarship, per his request.
The 6-1 point guard missed both his field goal attempts against the Mountaineers and was scoreless. He had one assist and one turnover.
In 10 games as a Buckeye, Crater averaged 1.2 points and 1.9 assists in 13.1 minutes per game backing up starting point guard Jeremie Simmons.
“We appreciate the contribution Anthony made to our program,” Ohio State head coach Thad Matta said in a statement. “We wish him the best.”
The departure of Crater, who was a Scout.com three-star recruit and the No. 21-rated point guard in the nation as a senior last year at Brewster (N.H.) Academy, leaves Ohio State with five healthy guards after losing guard/forward David Lighty to a foot injury.
Without Crater, Matta is down to seven healthy players who have averaged double-figure minutes in the first 10 games.
The Buckeyes begin Big Ten play Wednesday with 4 p.m. visit from Iowa that will be televised by the Big Ten Network.