By: Shannon Ryan (LATimes.com) — The Buckeyes star will be out for two months with a broken back after falling after a dunk against Eastern Michigan. He was averaging 31.5 minutes, 18.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists.

Talk about a bad break.

Ohio State will need to learn to exist without its top player, who is probably the best player in the Big Ten and quite possibly the nation. When Evan Turner fell seven feet onto his back after a dunk in the first half of a blowout victory against Eastern Michigan, Value City Arena was silent.

Buckeyes fans might still be holding their breath after it was revealed the junior swingman — averaging 31.5 minutes, 18.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists — will miss two months with a broken back.

Stranger yet, this isn’t the first time Ohio State has dealt with an injury to a player the team leaned on. Almost exactly a year ago, David Lighty broke his foot in the seventh game and missed the remainder of the season as the Buckeyes went 22-11 and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament while Turner emerged as a star.

“Our guys will regroup and prepare for the rest of our season,” Ohio State Coach Thad Matta said after the game.

It’s hard to imagine the Buckeyes as an elite team without Turner.

Instead of being hyped as a showdown between two ranked teams, the Buckeyes’ first game without Turner — against Butler on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse — will provide a glimpse of what shape they take. Already limited in size and depth, now they have to find ways to contend without their star.

Guard Jon Diebler is second on the team with 17.1 points per game, and three other players are in the 11-point range, including Lighty. But Turner’s impact is unquantifiable…..

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