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CHRISTIAN LAUTENSCHLEGER/THE LANTERN
Ohio State sophomore Nikola Kecman shoots a 3-pointer against Houston Baptist on Jan. 9. OSU won 89-65. Kecman tore the ACL in his left knee in practice three days later and missed the rest of the season.

After serving a 12-game suspension for playing for a semi-pro team overseas, Kecman returned to action Jan. 9 with six points and five rebounds in an 89-65 win over Houston Baptist.

Three days later, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during practice, cutting short his first season at OSU after just one game.

The roller coaster season took its toll on the 6-foot-8-inch forward, but Kecman said it's all part of the territory that comes with playing basketball.

"That's all part of what happens in sports," he said. "That'll be part of my career that I had to go through so I'll be ready for next season. I'll start from the beginning and I'll finish it well."

The recovery process is no stranger to Kecman, who suffered the same injury to his right knee four years ago. He has worked throughout the offseason on tactics to avoid becoming injury-prone, he said.

"The part that was injured, you have to make it stronger so that the same thing can't happen again," he said. "I've done a lot every day with cardio workouts, shooting and knee workouts."

Kecman said he should be fully healed by July, and has his sights set on team practices in the fall.

Men's Basketball: Lighty, Kecman on the road to recovery - Sports