Ohio State forward EJ Liddell responded to some angry fans who he said sent threatening messages after the Buckeyes ‘first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday and wrote in part in his Twitter account:’ What did I do to earn it? I’m a human. ‘
Liddell and the No. 2 seeded Buckeyes went 75-72 in overtime to the no. 15 Everywhere Roberts fell in the first major upheaval in the tournament in two years.
He then shared screenshots of messages he received from the two disgruntled fans, including one who threatened to find him and physically attack him.
Another fan wrote to Liddell: “You are such a disgrace. Never show your face in the state of Ohio. We hate you. I hope you die, I really do.”
“Comments do not reach me, but I just want to know why,” Liddell wrote on Twitter. ‘I’ve never done anything to anyone in my life to approach it that way.
“It’s not me who says anything negative about Ohio State fans. I love you all very much and I have felt nothing but appreciation since I first walked the campus.”
Former Buckeyes star Jared Sullinger was among those casting his support behind Liddell, writing that some people “do not consider you a human being more like entertainment”.
“Continue to be the young man you are,” Sullinger wrote to Liddell. “Proud of you. Use these messages to ignite your fire.”
Liddell, a sophomore, scored 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Buckeyes, who were runners-up in the Big Ten, and entered Friday’s first-round game as 16-point favorites.