.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
There's a lot to know before you lock in your 2026 March Madness bracket.
The period before the NCAA Tournament is always a time for cramming in research about the best offenses and defenses in the country, which teams have the biggest stars, and how different matchups could play out. But there's another factor that could heavily influence March's results: injuries.
Some of the best teams in the country have either seen key contributors go down with a season-ending injury, or those players' status is in question for the tournament. Either way, there are some important injuries to know about in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Here's a breakdown of the injured players whose status you should monitor throughout March Madness.
MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Printable bracket
March Madness key injuries to know 2026
Caleb Foster, Duke
The tournament's No. 1 overall seed, Duke, cruised through the regular season at 32-2. But still, there are two fairly notable injury situations to follow for the Blue Devils.
The first is veteran guard Caleb Foster, who fractured his foot in the last game of the regular season against North Carolina. Foster underwent surgery, and he can be considered unlikely to appear for the Blue Devils in the NCAA Tournament unless they make a very deep run. Jeff Goodman reported that Foster could play if Duke makes Final 4, but it’s unlikely.
Jon Scheyer hasn't been willing to rule Foster out for the year, but in all likelihood, Duke will be without one of its top perimeter defenders throughout March Madness. Foster has averaged 8.5 points per game, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this season.
Patrick Ngongba II, Duke
A less-serious injury for Duke is Patrick Ngongba II's, as the center missed the end of the regular season, plus the ACC Tournament, with foot soreness. Ngongba is expected to be able to make a return at some point soon, but his status has also been up in the air heading into the first round, although he's been progressing.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer says center Patrick Ngongba took a good step with the team's medical staff today, and is still trending well to be able to play in the NCAA Tournament (like Scheyer announced earlier this week).
— Brendan Marks (@BrendanRMarks) March 14, 2026Ngongba is the Blue Devils' top lob threat and shot-blocker, averaging 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game this season.
L.J. Cason, Michigan
Similar to its fellow No. 1 seed, Michigan has one key contributor done for the season and another who should be fine, but has dealt with injury concerns lately.
Guard L.J. Cason had been providing strong bench minutes for the Wolverines, averaging 8.4 points in 18.6 minutes per game, but he tore his ACL in February and will likely redshirt next season as he continues recovery. In his absence, Michigan is seeking more from guards Eliot Cadeau, Trey McKenny and Nimari Burnett.
Could be something, could be nothing, but Michigan has looked a lot more human since L.J. Cason went down, going 0-5 ATS, with three of their four wins coming by 4 points or fewer.
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) March 15, 2026Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Additionally, Michigan's leading scorer, Yaxel Lendeborg, was seen with ice wrapped around his ankle after the Big Ten Championship. Lendeborg, however, is expected to be fine and play in the first round, as he said has a low ankle sprain that he doesn't think will impact his status.
MORE: The latest on Yaxel Lendeborg's ankle injury
Caleb Wilson, UNC
One of the toughest injuries for any NCAA Tournament team was to star UNC forward Caleb Wilson, who was enjoying a terrific season, averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as a freshman. Initially, a fractured hand was expected to sideline Wilson for just a few weeks.
However, after experiencing further discomfort in his thumb while ramping back up, X-rays revealed a fracture, and Wilson needed season-ending surgery. Without Wilson, UNC's realistic March Madness hopes have been drastically lowered, as the Tar Heels lost their leading scorer and offensive engine.
Richie Saunders, BYU
While the Cougars have arguably the country's best player in AJ Dybantsa, they also lost one of their other top contributors in February.
Guard Richie Saunders tore his ACL in a game vs. Colorado, ending his season. BYU lost four of its next five games without Saunders, but has gotten a bit more back on track since then.
Saunders was averaging 18.0 points per game and connecting on 38% of his 3-point attempts, leaving a void for scoring in BYU's backcourt.
Jaylin Stewart, UConn
One of UConn's top bench pieces, forward Jaylin Stewart, missed the final six games of the regular season with a knee injury.
Dan Hurley has said Stewart's status for Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament hasn't yet been decided, but should the Huskies advance, the junior should be returning at some point. Stewart has averaged 4.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game off the bench for UConn.
Hurley’s injury update:
Jaylin Stewart: “It’ll be close” for him to be available first round.
Silas Demary Jr.: “In pretty good shape.”
SN EXPERT BRACKETS: DeCourcy (Arizona) | Bender (Michigan) | Iyer (Arizona) | Gay (UCLA women)
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
One of the best players in the country, JT Toppin, went down with a season-ending injury in February due to a torn ACL. Without Toppin, who has been a nightly double-double threat for the Red Raiders since he arrived in 2024-25, Texas Tech's chances of a deep tournament run took a massive hit.
Toppin was averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game before his season-ending injury, the kind of production that Texas Tech can't find in just one other player. The Red Raiders have already fallen to a No. 5 seed after previously being one of the nation's best teams with Toppin, and it's now unlikely they're able to make a Final Four-type run without him.
A trio of brutal season-ending injuries in last few weeks:
JT Toppin - Texas Tech
Caleb Wilson - North Carolina
Richie Saunders - BYU
Three teams that had a chance to do significant damage in the NCAA tourney.
Two more Texas Tech players, Christian Anderson and Lejuan Watts, have also been dealing with injuries; Anderson hurt his groin after slipping on the floor at the Big 12 Tournament, while Watts has had an ankle sprain. However, both contributors are expected to be on the floor for Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament.
Donovan Dent, UCLA
One top player who had a recent injury scare, but is still likely to play in the tournament, is UCLA's Donovan Dent. He had been lifting the Bruins with his passing in the Big Ten Tournament, including the first triple-double in tournament history, but then played just nine minutes in the team's loss to Purdue in the semifinals due to a calf injury.
However, Dent should be fine moving forward, without much concern for his NCAA Tournament status.
Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA
The Bruins had another recent injury scare when their leading scorer, forward Tyler Bilodeau, appeared to have a serious knee ailment in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, but it turned out to be a knee strain that shouldn't impact his availability moving forward.
Both UCLA stars are expected to be available.
UCLA’s Mick Cronin told @TheFieldOf68 that he expects both Tyler Bilodeau and Donovan Dent to be available for the Bruins first-round game in the NCAA tournament.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 15, 2026Carter Welling, Clemson
The Tigers got a tough blow in the ACC Tournament when forward Carter Welling went down with an injury, which was diagnosed as a torn right ACL.
— Carmine Gemei (@CarmineGemei) March 13, 2026Welling was averaging 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for Clemson this season, production the team will not have as it embarks on the NCAA Tournament as an eighth seed.
MORE UPSET PICKS: 10 seeds | 11 seeds | 12 seeds | 13 seeds
Matt Hodge, Villanova
One of Villanova's starters went down in early March with a torn ACL — forward Matt Hodge is done for the year, leaving a void for coach Kevin Willard to fill.
Hodge was averaging 9.2 points per game, shooting 45.2% from the floor and 36.8% from deep before his injury.
Nolan Winter, Wisconsin
Seven-foot forward Nolan Winter began dealing with an ankle sprain in the final days of the regular season for Wisconsin. He did not play in the Big Ten Tournament, but that was likely primarily out of precaution.
Winter, averaging 13.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in 2025-26, told reporters he's expecting to return for March Madness.
Nolan Winter not playing today due to an ankle injury. Greg Gard said he would “definitely” play in the NCAAs. pic.twitter.com/S0WbDKlZs3
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) March 12, 2026MORE REGION PREVIEWS: East | West | Midwest | South
Braden Huff, Gonzaga
Gonzaga is a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but one of its leading players' status for March Madness remains up in the air.
Forward Braden Huff has been out since January with a knee injury, initially expected to return by early March, but having yet to make it back on the floor. Head coach Mark Few has indicated that Huff is beginning to ramp up for a potential return, but it likely wouldn't be until deeper in the tournament that the forward is able to play.
Gonzaga's Braden Huff (knee) is now jogging and shooting, but doubtful for the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, per Mark Few.
Has not played since 1/8.
Averages 17.8 PPG and 5.6 RPG.
Prior to his injury, Huff was averaging 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
Louisville didn't have one of its best guards, Mikel Brown Jr., in the ACC Tournament. He's been dealing with back soreness; throughout the season, Brown has been in and out of the lineup, playing a total of 21 games.
Brown is eyeing a return in the NCAA Tournament, but his status will be worth monitoring. When he's healthy, he can be one of the best players in the entire tournament, averaging 8.2 points and 4.7 assists per game this season.
Asked Mikel Brown Jr. if he was 100 percent certain he would play in the NCAA Tournament.
Here's his answer. @WHAS11 pic.twitter.com/Frn5kmvTBl
Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
Second-year forward Jayden Quaintance should not be expected to contribute much for Kentucky in March Madness, if anything at all — he's played in just four games this season due to swelling in the knee he previously tore his ACL in.
While Quaintance hasn't been ruled out for the season, it's unlikely he's able to play anything more than limited minutes throughout the season, his first with the Wildcats after transferring from Arizona State.
Mark Pope on Jayden Quaintance: "JQ is making progress, but I don't think he's going to be able to cross the line before this weekend."
— Wyatt Huff (@Wildcat_wave) March 16, 2026Karter Knox, Arkansas
The Razorbacks have been without starting guard Karter Knox since mid-February. He tore his left meniscus, an injury that has left him without a timetable to return.
If Arkansas makes a deep run, there's a chance Knox can return in the NCAA Tournament, and he'd be a nice boost. Knox has averaged 8.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season.
HISTORY OF UPSETS BY SEED:
16 vs. 1 | 15 vs. 2 | 14 vs. 3 | 13 vs. 4 | 12 vs. 5
English (US)