Here at RotoWire, we've meticulously tracked the tough-to-find injury information in college basketball all season to benefit season-long fantasy owners. But with Selection Sunday in the books, the focus has turned primarily from individual players to teams. You don't see a "questionable" or "out" designation when filling out your bracket, so how can you tell which teams are 100 percent healthy? This column is a quick rundown of all the notable injuries in the tournament field, followed by a brief analysis of how a potential absence might affect their team. It's not meant to plant a red flag against any particular team, but rather augment your preparation over the next few crucial days. Without further delay ...
Update (3/14): I added Hunter and a few more news and notes that could have a small effect. Additionally, I tossed a few extra players on the bottom that suffered injuries within a few weeks of the tournament. Those may play a role in breaking down first-round matchups.
DeAndre Hunter, F, Virginia (OUT - Wrist)
News broke Tuesday that Hunter will be sidelined for the NCAA Tournament, which is a pretty significant blow to their prospects of a deep run. The freshman was the ACC's sixth-man of the year, and contributed 11.5 PPG over 11 games since the start of February. That may not sound like much, but this is Virginia basketball we're talking. Taking a look at various odds sites, there doesn't appear to be a ton of money moving away from
Here at RotoWire, we've meticulously tracked the tough-to-find injury information in college basketball all season to benefit season-long fantasy owners. But with Selection Sunday in the books, the focus has turned primarily from individual players to teams. You don't see a "questionable" or "out" designation when filling out your bracket, so how can you tell which teams are 100 percent healthy? This column is a quick rundown of all the notable injuries in the tournament field, followed by a brief analysis of how a potential absence might affect their team. It's not meant to plant a red flag against any particular team, but rather augment your preparation over the next few crucial days. Without further delay ...
Update (3/14): I added Hunter and a few more news and notes that could have a small effect. Additionally, I tossed a few extra players on the bottom that suffered injuries within a few weeks of the tournament. Those may play a role in breaking down first-round matchups.
DeAndre Hunter, F, Virginia (OUT - Wrist)
News broke Tuesday that Hunter will be sidelined for the NCAA Tournament, which is a pretty significant blow to their prospects of a deep run. The freshman was the ACC's sixth-man of the year, and contributed 11.5 PPG over 11 games since the start of February. That may not sound like much, but this is Virginia basketball we're talking. Taking a look at various odds sites, there doesn't appear to be a ton of money moving away from the Cavs... yet. Between an incredibly tough draw, this injury news and leading scorer Kyle Guy possibly not at 100 percent (see below), I'm starting to shy away from Virginia shares a little bit. In the end, however, the main concern with this team is their propensity for long scoring droughts, rather than the loss of any individual contributor. Should Tony Bennett's squad get behind in a game, they are in unfamiliar territory and may not be able to pick up the pace and storm back.
Udoka Azubuike, C, Kansas (GTD - knee)
Kansas might have secured a No. 1 seed after Big 12 regular season and tournament titles, but it might not make it too far without its 7-foot center. Azubuike, who is responsible for 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds, is dealing with an MCL sprain and appears to be in line to return opening weekend. If need be, the Jayhawks should have no problem getting to the second weekend without him, but as the matchups get tougher, coach Bill Self will start to miss his inside presence. Without Azubuike, Mitch Lightfoot and Silvio de Sousa are the best center options. They were serviceable in the conference tourney, but lack experience, and one has to wonder how long the magic can last. On the flip side, and earlier-than-expected return for "Doka" could greatly benefit the Jayhawks' prospects of long-term dancing.
Update: Azuibuike still isn't a lock for an opening-round matchup against Penn, but coach Bill Self is optimistic he'll be ready during the opening weekend. That would be especially important if they draw Seton Hall, a 6-10 senior who is one of the toughest big men to guard in college hoops.
Jarred Vanderbilt, F, Kentucky (GTD - ankle)
Kentucky has had more ups and downs than usual this season, but impressively enough, managed to win the SEC tournament without Vanderbilt, a five-star forward that registered No. 19 overall on ESPN's annual top 100. The Wildcats learned to play without Vanderbilt early in the season, as he missed the first 17 games due to a foot injury. He was eventually eased back in, and from Feb. 3 to March 3, averaged 8.7 rebounds per game. Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones have stepped up big in Vanderbilt's absence, but a return could provide a boost to an already red-hot team.
Update: It looks like Vanderbilt will miss both opening-weekend games, which might make it tough to get past a towering Arizona frontcourt.
Dean Wade, F, Barry Brown, G, Kansas State (foot/eye - both expected to play)
Wade leads the Wildcats in scoring at 16.5 PPG, but fell victim to a sudden foot injury in the middle of the Big 12 tournament and was held out of a Friday matchup against Kansas. In the same game, Brown suffered an eye injury and was unable to return after the swelling got to be too much. Fortunately for Kansas State, both are expected to play in Friday's NCAA Tournament opener against Creighton. The Wildcats are (+2) underdogs, but more money could be headed their way as this news circulates.
Kyle Guy, G, Virginia (knee - will play)
Despite sporting a knee brace for much of the ACC tournament, Guy seems like his regular self. He was scoreless in an appearance off the bench in the final regular season game, which was reasonably a cause for concern, as he's the leading basket-getter on a team that can be prone to the occasional scoring drought. In three tournament games, Guy averaged 16.7 PPG, which was actually higher than his season average. Whether or not he wears a brace to The Dance, Guy's injury should be a thing of the past for him and the Cavaliers.
Courtney Stockard, F, St. Bonaventure (GTD - hamstring)
Most of the attention the Bonnies receive is directed at Jaylen Adams, but Stockard plays a vital role with 12.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals. Given those contributions, it's not too surprising that St. Bonaventure fell to Davidson in the A-10 tournament semifinals Saturday, as Stockard was a late scratch with an injured hamstring. The committee penalized the Bonnies for that loss, and coach Mark Schmidt must now play his way into the field of 64 with a matchup against UCLA on Tuesday. The Bruins are already (-3) favorites for that matchup, and if Stockard's hamstring doesn't heal up after the short turnaround, it would be tough to see St. Bonaventure coming out on top. They already struggle on the glass, and will have to contend with a frontcourt featuring 6-11 Gyorgy Goloman and 7-0 Thomas Welsh.
Update: Stockard led the Bonnies with 26 points on 9-of-20 shooting, so yeah, the hamstring looks alright. He was basically single-handedly responsible for St. Bonaventure advancing, as leading scorer Jaylen Adams had a poor night from the field. Stockard shouldn't miss any time for as long as the Bonnies last.
Donta Hall, F, Alabama (GTD - concussion)
Head and hardwood collided when Hall took a spill to the floor in the SEC tournament, sending the 6-9 forward into concussion protocol. The team's second-leading scorer (10.9 PPG) will be a gametime call Thursday against Virginia Tech, though coach Avery Johnson seems optimistic Hall will suit up. Should Hall's symptoms linger, the Tide have a deep frontcourt that should be able to make up for it, but they won't be at their best. I have Alabama advancing with or without Hall, as its postseason hopes rests primarily on stud freshman Collin Sexton.
Update: Hall didn't practice Monday.
Jordan Barnett, F, Missouri (OUT - suspension)
The conversation around the Tigers has centered on the return of Michael Porter Jr., but don't forget about the players who held down the fort when Porter was on the shelf most of the year. Few helped the cause more than Barnett, who tallied 13.7 points and 5.9 boards over 34.1 minutes. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI on Saturday, and the team already announced he will be suspended for Friday's NCAA Tournament opener against Florida State. The Tigers are slight favorites (-1) for this matchup as of late Sunday night, but Barnett's absence makes this one even more of a toss-up.
Anfernee McLemore, C, Auburn (OUT - ankle)
McLemore dislocated his ankle in a February matchup against South Carolina, a game in which they eventually lost and he only played 13 minutes. In the five contests since, Auburn is 2-3, including a one-and-done appearance in the SEC tournament after losing to Alabama. Auburn had lost only three games all season prior to Feb. 17, so the impact McLemore makes is measurable, especially on a team that has already had multiple loses due to the FBI problem. In McLemore's stead, Chuma Okeke and Horace Spencer have seen more time, but both stand at just 6-8. Coach Bruce Pearl has scraped together something out of nothing all year, but getting to the second weekend will be a huge ask. With Clemson not at 100 percent either, it would't be too shocking to see the New Mexico State Aggies in the Sweet 16.
Donte Grantham, F, Clemson (OUT - torn ACL)
Grantham (14.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.4 APG) hasn't seen the court for the Tigers since Jan. 20, and it's been pretty much downhill ever since. The Tigers are 7-6 in his absence, but most of those wins -- with the exception of a narrow home victory over North Carolina Jan. 30 -- have came against the bottom barrel of the ACC. Freshman Aamir Simms has filled in admirably in his absence, but the team still isn't quite the same. Clemson remains a (-5) favorite for their opening-round matchup against New Mexico St., but the Aggies are an excellent rebounding team, and I picked them for one of my upsets. New Mexico State might have a better draw than most double-digit seeds, as if they advance they could match up against an Auburn squad without Anfernee McLemore (see above).
Bruce Brown, G, Miami (GTD - Foot)
Brown underwent foot surgery on Jan. 30 -- a procedure that was only expected to cost him six weeks. Fast forward 2.5 months, and Brown is just starting to get going with the rehab process. There's technically a chance he's able to suit up in the tournament, but he would probably be rusty after all this time on the shelf. Freshman point guard Chris Lykes, who stands at just 5-7, has been better than expected in Brown's stead, but hasn't quite filled the shoes. After all, Brown's all-around production of 11.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists isn't easy to replace. Though Miami will have a size advantage, they're not quite as experienced as past teams, and Loyola-Chicago is one of the most dangerous double-digit seeds in the field.
Desi Rodriguez & Ismael Sanogo, Fs, Seton Hall (both ankle - should play)
Sanogo has been productive in stretches in the starting lineup for the Pirates this season, but Rodriguez is a true difference-maker with a team-high 17.8 PPG. The latter missed three games to end the regular season before coming off the bench to record 16 minutes in a one-and-done Big East Tournament effort. Both are expected to play, though, and Seton Hall currently sits at a (-2) favorite for their opening-round matchup against N.C. State. My prediction: Seton Hall gets through, even if Rodriguez still isn't 100 percent. Senior Khadeen Carrington is due to step up, and I believe just that will happen.
Anyone mentioned in the FBI probe.
Although it seems unlikely, owning a high stake in programs potentially implicated in the recent FBI probe could carry at least a small degree of risk. Arizona and Auburn are the most prominently mentioned in reports, though programs like Duke, Alabama, Texas, Michigan State and Kentucky didn't necessarily emerge unscathed. USC would have fallen in that category had it not been snubbed for a bid (conspiracy anyone?). I'm not saying to avoid these teams entirely – I still like Duke to win a national title – but the allegations might make me a little more cautious to put a talent-heavy team like Arizona in the Final Four. At the very least, we know some of these teams should be able to evade any consequences through the opening weekend, so picking them early in a survivor-type format might be a good bet.
