March is here, with conference tournaments underway and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament right around the corner, bringing the intensity of college basketball to its peak. While bracket upsets, coaching adjustments, and star performances often dominate the headlines, one of the most important factors shaping the tournament is team health. By this point in the season, nearly every roster is managing bumps and bruises after months of conference play, and even minor injuries can have major consequences in a single-elimination format. With quick turnarounds between games and little time for recovery, players often have to push through ankle sprains, knee soreness, and other lingering issues, making depth and durability just as important as talent. This injury guide highlights the key health situations across the tournament field, identifying players who may be limited, questionable, or returning from injury as teams fight to survive and advance through March Madness. Listed below are key team injuries for around the college basketball world ordered by AP Top 25:
Will be constantly updated throughout conference and main tournament*
Caleb Foster & Patrick Ngongba II - Duke
Foster - 8.5 ppg 3.6 reb 2.8 ast
Ngongba II - 10.7 ppg 6.0 reb 1.9 ast
Duke starting guard Caleb Foster suffered a fractured right foot and could miss the NCAA Tournament after undergoing surgery, coach Jon Scheyer announced. Scheyer did not provide a specific timetable for Foster’s return, saying only that he will miss the “foreseeable” future. When asked whether Foster could return at some point during the NCAA Tournament, Scheyer said Duke would likely need to make a deep run for that to become a possibility.
Patrick Ngongba II will miss the ACC Tournament because of ongoing foot soreness, though Head Coach Jon Scheyer remains hopeful Ngongba will return for the NCAA Tournament. Ngongba is averaging 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds this season.
JT Toppin - Texas Tech
21.8 ppg 10.8 reb 2.1 ast
Texas Tech junior forward JT Toppin suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee during the Red Raiders’ game against Arizona State on February 17, 2026. An MRI confirmed the ligament tear, ending the standout forward’s season and dealing a major blow to Texas Tech’s postseason hopes. Toppin had emerged as one of the team’s most important players and was widely considered a National Player of the Year candidate, making his absence significant as the Red Raiders now head into March Madness without their star forward.
Caleb Wilson - UNC
19.8 ppg 9.4 reb 2.7 ast
The North Carolina freshman forward was in the midst of a fantastic season before suffering a left hand fracture on February 10 against Miami. While recovering and working his way toward a possible return for the ACC Tournament, Wilson then broke his right thumb while going up for a dunk during non-contact drills. He will now need surgery, which means he will miss March Madness. Oddly enough, North Carolina has gone 5-2 in games without him.
Evan Ipsaro - Miami (OH)
13.9 ppg 2.4 reb 3.3 ast
Miami (OH) suffered a major loss when Ipsaro tore his ACL against Ball State on December 20. Despite the injury, the RedHawks have appeared largely unaffected, just recently finishing off a perfect regular season (31-0). The standout had scored 20+ points in three games this season prior to the injury. The guard will miss the NCAA Tournament.
Darius Acuff Jr. & Karter Knox - Arkansas
Acuff Jr. - 22.2 ppg 3.0 reb 6.4 ast
Knox - 8.1 ppg 4.5 reb 1.2 ast
The Arkansas star freshman guard was ruled out of the March 7, 2026 regular-season finale against Missouri due to a nagging ankle injury. Head coach John Calipari chose to hold him out for rest and recovery ahead of the SEC Tournament in Nashville beginning March 11, as Acuff has been playing through the ankle issue. Despite the injury, he has put together a strong freshman season and is expected to be an important piece for Arkansas entering the postseason.
Arkansas forward Karter Knox underwent a successful procedure to repair his left meniscus on February 18 after battling multiple injuries throughout the season. Knox first missed the season opener against Southern with turf toe and later suffered a hip injury during a road loss to Auburn in January. He was later ruled out with a knee injury during a road trip against Mississippi State and LSU beginning February 7. Knox briefly returned against Auburn on February 14 but played only six minutes before appearing to re-aggravate the injury. The young forward will miss the NCAA tournament.
Outside of AP Top 25 -
Mikel Brown Jr. - Louisville
18.2 ppg 3.3 reb 4.7 ast
Louisville five-star freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. is currently considered day-to-day with a back injury, according to head coach Pat Kelsey, who said the team does not have a timetable for his return and is focused on getting him back to 100 percent. Brown has missed the last two games and a total of 10 games this season, including an eight-game stretch from December 13 to January 24. The injury was aggravated during a game against North Carolina, which led to him coming off the bench and playing just 21 minutes against Clemson. Louisville has now finished its regular season, leaving Brown’s availability for the ACC Tournament uncertain.
Richie Sanders & Dawson Baker - BYU
Sanders - 18.0 ppg 5.8 reb 2.1 ast
Baker - 7.5 ppg 1.7 reb 0.5 ast
Saunders suffered a season-ending right ACL tear on February 14, 2026, during the first minute of a game against Colorado. The senior sustained the injury on a non-contact, awkward step and was forced to leave the game immediately. A key contributor in his final season of eligibility, Saunders will miss the remainder of the year, including the NCAA Tournament.
Baker revealed on social media that he suffered a season-ending knee injury, with MRI results showing a complete ACL tear along with a torn lateral meniscus, mild posterolateral corner involvement, grade 2 MCL and LCL sprains, bone bruising, muscle and tendon strains, and small impact fractures. Baker has battled foot injuries and undergone multiple surgeries during his time at BYU, and this knee injury marks another setback for the veteran guard. A key piece of the Cougars’ rotation, Baker served as the team’s top guard option off the bench and the leading scorer for the second unit, and he will miss the remainder of the season.
Jaland Lowe & Jayden Quaintance - Kentucky
Lowe - 8.0 ppg 2.1 reb 2.4 ast
Quaintance - 5.0 ppg 5.0 reb 0.5 ast
Guard Jaland Lowe will miss the remainder of the 2025–26 season after undergoing successful surgery on his right shoulder in late January. Lowe had been dealing with recurring shoulder dislocations since October, an issue that ultimately required a surgical repair and a projected six-month rehabilitation process. The injury is significant news for Kentucky as Lowe will now be sidelined for the rest of the season, and he plans to apply for a medical redshirt as he begins his recovery.
Quaintance has been sidelined for most of the season due to swelling in his right knee related to a previous ACL tear suffered in February 2025. After appearing in just four games this season, the lingering inflammation and recovery concerns prompted the medical staff to place him on shutdown from activities in January 2026 to protect the knee. Given the continued symptoms and long-term recovery considerations following ACL reconstruction, a return during the NCAA Tournament remains unlikely.
Mackenzie Mgbako - Texas A&M
10.4 ppg 4.9 reb 1.3 ast
Texas A&M forward will miss the remainder of the 2025–26 season including the NCAA tournament after re-fracturing his right foot, an injury that required a second surgical procedure to stabilize the area with a supporting plate. The setback occurred in the same foot where he previously suffered a Jones fracture earlier in the season, raising concerns about structural stability and healing in the fifth metatarsal.
B.J. Edwards - SMU
12.7 ppg 5.9 reb 4.9 ast
SMU guard BJ Edwards suffered an ankle injury on February 25 against California and has not played since. The Mustangs have struggled in his absence, losing four straight games including the contest against Cal. Edwards is a key piece of the SMU backcourt, and with the team firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble, his injury has significantly impacted their momentum down the stretch. His status will be closely monitored as SMU prepares for the ACC Tournament, where his availability could be critical if the Mustangs hope to make a postseason push.
For more expert analysis, projections and injury-based picks - subscribe for a free account and newsletter here
Want to know who to bet?
This season our NFL and College Basketball picks are winning using our injury intel!
Try SIC Picks today to see our College Basketball and NBA Picks - Claim 75% off SIC Picks One Day Pass- Use code: HOOPS5
WANT TO KNOW WHO TO BET? - USE SIC PICKS!
SIC PICKS ARE BASED ON INSIDER INJURY KNOWLEDGE FROM FORMER PRO SPORTS TEAM DOCTORS TO GIVE YOU A WINNING EDGE IN SPORTS BETTING!
SIC PICKS are powered by the proven SIC Score algorithms from our exclusive panel of former Pro Sports Team doctors to give you a sports betting edge. Each day our team of doctors analyze the players and teams and share their expert insights to help you make informed bets on the biggest unknown to sportsbooks and sports bettors - player health and injuries!
For our Best Bets including spreads, totals, props and live in game with instant alerts as game day opportunities arise with research notes, sign up to SIC Picks here for less than $2 a day on an annual plan.
Sign up to SIC Picks today to get our picks sent direct to your cell!
