Only 16 teams remain in March Madness. The dream of cutting down the nets is becoming more real for the remaining squads. With the Sweet 16 set to tip off tonight, some teams are dealing with more injury issues than others.
March Madness Sweet 16 Injury Report
Here are the injury reports for the teams set to compete in the Sweet 16:
Texas Longhorns
- Jordan Pope (ankle): Questionable
- Lassina Traore (knee): Out
Pope has played a big role for the Longhorns so far in the NCAA Tournament. In their second-round win over Gonzaga, he scored a team-high 17 points alongside Matas Vokietaitis.
Pope suffered an ankle issue against the Bulldogs, and the Longhorns are hoping that he’ll be ready to play against Purdue. Traore has been out with knee soreness and won’t be able to suit up against Purdue in the Sweet 16.
Purdue Boilermakers
- C.J. Cox (knee): Questionable
Cox hyperextended his knee against Miami in the second round. He expects to be ready to go against Texas as the Boilermakers aim to continue their run in March. With Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn leading the way, Purdue is poised to make some noise in the second weekend.
Iowa Hawkeyes
- Peyton McCollum (foot): Out for season
The Hawkeyes are coming off the biggest win of their season and one of the biggest in school history after upsetting No. 1 seed Florida. They are healthy heading into the game outside of McCollum’s injury.
McCollum didn’t appear in any games and hasn’t played a role for the Hawkeyes. It’s business as usual as Iowa takes on its rival Nebraska. It’s time for Bennett Stirtz to shine.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Ugnius Jarusevicius (back): Out
- Henry Burt (knee): Out
- Connor Essegian (ankle): Out for season
The Cornhuskers have quite a few injuries, but none have major impacts on their rotation. After narrowly escaping Vanderbilt, Nebraska gets a crack at one of its biggest rivals. Led by Pryce Sandfort, the Cornhuskers have their eyes set on making a deep run.
Arkansas Razorbacks
- Karter Knox (knee): Out
Knox is a key contributor to the Razorbacks. He’s been out since February with a knee injury and is working his way back to help the Razorbacks. He won’t be back to face Arizona.
The Razorbacks are going to need every break they can get, but they won’t get one with Knox unable to return. But they have Darius Acuff Jr., who is playing better than anyone in the country, averaging 30.2 points and 7.2 assists in five postseason games.
Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats are fully healthy heading into their matchup against Arkansas. As one of the favorites heading into the tournament, Arizona will be ecstatic to be fully healthy at this stage of the year. They’ll need to figure out how to slow down Acuff and the Razorbacks, but their stacked roster is healthy, battle-tested, and ready to go.
St. John’s Red Storm
- Casper Pohto (hip): Out for season
- Imran Suljanovic (knee): Out for season
The Red Storm aren’t facing any major issues in the health department. Pohto and Suljanovic haven’t played pivotal roles for the Johnnies. They are playing like one of the best teams in the country but will have to face the No. 1 overall seed in Duke.
Duke Blue Devils
- Caleb Foster (foot): Questionable
- Ifeanyi Ufochukwu (knee): Out for season
The Blue Devils have been banged up at the end of the season, but they’re still dancing and getting healthier. Pat Ngongba II just returned, and Caleb Foster is getting ready to return.
It’s unlikely that he will be back for the Sweet 16, but considering his injury, it is a huge boost for the Blue Devils that he is questionable.
Ufochukwu suffered a non-contact injury earlier in the season and is out for the year. The Blue Devils would love to have him on the floor, but their roster is dominant without him.
Alabama Crimson Tide
- Aden Holloway (personal): Out
- Keitenn Bristow (leg): Out
- Davion Hannah (medical): Out
- Collins Onyejiaka (medical): Out
While the Crimson Tide’s injury list looks daunting, Holloway is the major miss. After being arrested for possession of marijuana just before the NCAA Tournament, he hasn’t played and won’t play in the Sweet 16. He’s the second-leading scorer for Alabama, averaging 16.8 points and leaving a major void for the team.
Michigan Wolverines
- L.J. Cason (knee): Out for season
- Winters Grady (foot): Out for season
Cason’s season-ending injury was a huge blow to the Wolverines’ depth. Grady has been out for a while as well. The Wolverines will rely on Elliot Cadeau, Trey McKenney, and Nimari Burnett to provide the steady backcourt play that Michigan will need to achieve its championship goals.
Michigan State Spartans
- Denham Wojcik (shoulder): Questionable
- Divine Ugochukwu (foot): Out
- Kaleb Glenn (knee): Out for season
Wojcik played just three minutes against Louisville in the second round. He’s questionable to play against UConn with a shoulder injury.
Ugochukwu is out with a pre-existing foot injury and won’t suit up. It’s Tom Izzo in March, so expect the Spartans to be ready even if they are without some rotational pieces.
UConn Huskies
- Jaylin Stewart (knee): Questionable
The Huskies will be hoping that Stewart can play against the Spartans. He’s been out of action since Feb. 21 against Villanova. The Huskies are looking to win their third national championship in four years and have a healthy roster capable of cutting down the nets.
Iowa State Cyclones
- Joshua Jefferson (ankle): Questionable
- Xzavion Mitchell (undisclosed): Out
- Mason Williams (hip): Out for season
All eyes will be on whether Jefferson can make it back for the Cyclones. He is one of the best players in the country and plays a pivotal role for Iowa State.
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger gave Jefferson a chance to play against Tennessee after an ankle sprain in their first-round game against Tennessee State. He told reporters that it’s going to come right down to game time to see if Jefferson can go.
If Jefferson is out, they’ll have to rely on the top shooter in the nation, Milan Momcilovic, Tamin Lipsey, and their deep group of contributors surrounding their stars.
Tennessee Volunteers
- Cade Phillips (shoulder): Out for season
The Volunteers are only without Phillips, who’s been injured for a while. After upsetting Virginia, Tennessee is looking good ahead of the Sweet 16.
Freshman Nate Ament and Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie will be eyeing another upset against a potentially shorthanded Iowa State.
