March Madness 2026: Sweet 16 Schedule, Scores & Live Updates

ST. LOUIS – The NCAA Tournament’s second round continues Sunday with eight teams vying for a place in the Sweet Sixteen, but the spotlight is partially dimmed for No. 2 seed Iowa State as the availability of All-American forward Joshua Jefferson remains uncertain following an ankle injury sustained Friday against Tennessee State.

Jefferson, a key component of the Cyclones’ success, suffered the injury in the opening minutes of Iowa State’s 108-74 victory. He was seen leaving the Enterprise Center on crutches and has been listed as doubtful to return for Sunday’s matchup against No. 7 seed Kentucky, according to reports. Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger stated the team will “continue to reevaluate over the next day or two,” to assess Jefferson’s condition.

The injury casts a shadow over Iowa State’s prospects as they prepare to face a Kentucky team that dispatched Santa Clara 89-84 in overtime on Friday. Without Jefferson, the Cyclones will rely on players like Killyan Toure, who had a career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds in the first-round win, and Nate Heise, who contributed 22 points.

Elsewhere in the tournament, (7) Miami (FL) will face (2) Purdue at 12:10 p.m. ET, while (5) St. John’s will take on (4) Kansas at 5:15 p.m. ET. Later in the evening, (7) UCLA will battle (2) UConn at 8:45 p.m. ET, and (5) Texas Tech will clash with (4) Alabama at 9:45 p.m. ET, with the winner advancing to play No. 1 seed Michigan.

The first round saw several upsets, including High Point’s stunning victory over Wisconsin. However, the second round presents a latest set of challenges as teams navigate injuries and strategic matchups in pursuit of a coveted spot in the Sweet Sixteen.