WICHITA, Kan. — The potential success of Houston in the upcoming Final Four may hinge significantly on the condition of J’Wan Roberts’ right ankle, much like fellow top seed Duke, whose fate is also tied to Cooper Flagg’s left ankle condition. These aren’t the only teams grappling with pivotal player injuries; second-seeded Alabama, and third-seeds Iowa State and Texas Tech are also facing similar challenges. Injuries invariably play a crucial role in dictating the course of NCAA Tournament games, influencing how millions craft their brackets.
Houston’s high-profile presence in the Midwest Region is partly thanks to 6-foot-8 Roberts, an elite rebounder and veteran leader from their 2021 Final Four roster. Roberts suffered an ankle sprain during the Big 12 Tournament and witnessed Houston’s triumph from the sidelines in Kansas City, Missouri. “I’m doing pretty good,” Roberts commented on Wednesday during an open practice session before facing No. 16 seed SIU-Edwardsville. “I’m getting a lot of treatment and just taking it day by day so I can be 100%.”
Elsewhere, Kentucky, the third seed, is optimistic about Lamont Butler’s return for their face-off with No. 14 seed Troy on Friday. Butler, noted for his assists and steals, injured his shoulder in their SEC Tournament clash with Oklahoma. Purdue, the No. 4 seed, is hopeful that Fletcher Loyer, their third-leading scorer, will be ready to play against No. 13 seed High Point on Thursday despite an elbow injury during a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal against Michigan. Conversely, Clemson received troubling news as No. 5 seed Dillon Hunter fractured his hand in the ACC Tournament, compromising his contribution as a vital bench player and a “glue guy” in Coach Brad Brownell’s roster.
In the East Region, all eyes have been on Flagg’s condition—the standout first-team All-American from Duke. After an ankle injury against Georgia Tech during the ACC, Flagg missed the remainder of the games, yet Duke is confident enough in his recovery to have updated the NCAA Tournament selection committee. The Blue Devils, who confront either American or Mount St. Mary’s on Friday, might not need Flagg’s exceptional performance in their opener but his presence will be crucial for a potential second-round matchup against Mississippi State or Baylor. Meanwhile, Duke also has Maliq Brown, a key defensive asset, recuperating from a shoulder re-injury sustained alongside Flagg’s incident.
In the lower half of the East Region, Alabama, seeded second, hopes for the return of Grant Nelson over the weekend, though he might miss the Friday game against No. 15 seed Robert Morris due to a knee injury from the SEC Tournament.
In the West Region, the anticipated Arkansas-Kansas clash on Friday presents a matchup between the No. 10 seed Razorbacks, guided by Coach John Calipari, and the seventh-seeded Jayhawks under Bill Self. Freshman Boogie Fland, the Razorbacks’ second-highest scorer, will likely play after a hand injury in January. Still, Arkansas is expected to miss the skills of top scorer and rebounder Adou Thiero due to a sustained knee injury, possibly affecting their defense against Jayhawks’ centerpiece Hunter Dickinson.
Texas Tech’s Coach Grant McCasland expresses optimism about having a full lineup for their first encounter with No. 14 seed UNC Wilmington on Thursday, including the crucial return of Darrion Williams and Chance McMillian, who have been battling leg and upper-body injuries respectively. On the other hand, Memphis is uncertain about the availability of guards Tyrese Hunter and Dante Harris for their game against No. 12 seed Colorado State on Friday, with Hunter bringing a consistent starting contribution this season.
For the South Region’s third seed Iowa State, the absence of second-leading scorer Keshon Gilbert, sidelined by a muscle strain that curtailed his late-season play in the Big 12 Tournament, accentuates the significance of Tamin Lipsey’s participation against No. 14 seed Lipscomb. Having suffered a groin injury in the same tournament, Lipsey should be active for Iowa State’s NCAA start despite missing the loss to BYU. Meanwhile, No. 8 seed Louisville awaits favorable updates on Reyne Smith, who sprained an ankle earlier in March and missed the ACC Tournament. Coach Pat Kelsey suggests that Smith, a senior guard, will likely return for play against No. 9 seed Creighton on Thursday.