March Madness is here, which means everything is in front of the teams good enough to make the event. Of course, one lingering injury could be the difference between a championship and a first-round exit.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest names dealing with injuries heading into the tournament, including players who are likely to play but will be less than 100% healthy.
March Madness Injuries To Know Ahead of NCAA Tournament Grouped By Injury/Absence Severity
The list is in order of the likelihood that each player will miss the event, starting with players Sports Illustrated believes to be at some risk but likely to play.
- Nolan Winter, Wisconsin – Probable
- Donovan Dent, UCLA – Probable
- Jaylin Stewart, UConn – Probable
- Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA – Probable
- Christian Anderson, Texas Tech – Probable
- Patrick Ngongba II, Duke – Questionable
- Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky – Questionable
- Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville – Questionable
- Caleb Foster, Duke – Questionable
- Karter Knox, Arkansas – Questionable
- Braden Huff, Gonzaga – Questionable
- Matt Hodge, Villanova – Out
- Caleb Wilson, North Carolina – Out
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech – Out
- Carter Welling, Clemson – Out
- Richie Saunders, BYU – Out
- Aden Holloway, Alabama – Out
- L.J. Cason, Michigan – Out
Perhaps the most unique expected absence that is not a result of injury is Alabama star Aden Holloway. Holloway is dealing with legal charges that only recently became levied against the second-leading scorer of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
It seemed there was a chance he would have been able to make the first round, but it appears the troubles will take him out of the running.
When Does The First Round of March Madness Begin And End?
The first round of March Madness begins Thursday, Mar. 19, with a matchup between the 16th-ranked Prairie View and the 16th-ranked Lehigh.
The first round will conclude on Friday, Mar. 20, after the contest between Missouri and the Miami Hurricanes concludes. The contest is set to have a 10:10 pm EST tipoff.
The next round will begin the next day, Saturday, Mar. 21, at an undisclosed time.
Read More News:
Donovan Dent Injury Update: Is UCLA Guard Playing vs UCF in 2026 March Madness?
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
