The first weekend of March Madness has come and gone. Sixty-eight teams have been whittled down to 16.  

Some of those teams, like Texas Tech, were able to persevere without being at full strength. While others, like Iowa State, suffered because they didn’t have their guys. Injuries to some of the biggest stars could continue to impact the NCAA Tournament and play a role in how the Sweet 16 shakes out. 

[MORE: 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket here]

Here are injuries to keep tabs on — plus the latest on those players’ tournament availability.

Injury: Hip contusion
Latest update: Questionable, but “should be good”
2024-25 stats: 12.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists

What it means: Baker-Mazara took a hard fall around the 12-minute mark of Auburn’s 82-70 second-round win over Creighton on Saturday. He left the game and tried to return twice in the final minutes but looked to be in pain both times. He appeared fine and in good spirits in the locker room following the game, and he has four days to heal before Auburn’s Sweet 16 tilt against Michigan. He should be good to go, but if he isn’t, it’s a tough blow for Auburn, who fell apart in last year’s NCAA Tournament after Baker-Mazara was ejected in a first-round loss to Yale. 

Injury: Leg
Latest update: Questionable
2024-25 stats: 5.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks

What it means: Cardwell went down with seven-and-half minutes remaining in Saturday’s tilt with what appeared to be a cramp. Auburn’s big rim-protector should be good to go for the Tigers’ Sweet 16 matchup with Michigan. 

Injury: Sprained ankle
Latest update: Available
2024-25 stats: 18.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists

What it means: Flagg played in both of Duke’s NCAA Tournament games on Friday and Sunday and looked like his normal self. The Blue Devils beat Mount Saint Mary’s, 93-49, in the first round and were able to limit Flagg to just 22 minutes. He played 29 minutes and had 18 points and nine rebounds against Baylor on Sunday. 

Injury: Dislocated shoulder
Latest update: Out indefinitely
2024-25 stats: 2.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game

What it means: Brown did not appear in either of Duke’s NCAA Tournament wins this past weekend and his future is unclear. He sustained a shoulder injury during Duke’s quarterfinal-round game of the ACC Tournament. He didn’t return to the game after going through some tests and going to the hospital. Brown, the anchor of the Blue Devils’ defense, was stellar in the 23 games he appeared in this year prior to his injury.

Injury: Knee
Latest update: Available
2024-25 stats: 11.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game

What it means: Nelson did not start Alabama’s first NCAA Tournament game against Robert Morris on Friday but was called into action as the Colonials stuck around. He played just seven minutes but helped the Tide stave off an upset. He played 28 minutes in Alabama’s 80-66 win over St. Mary’s on Sunday, scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds. It was clear in the minutes Nelson missed Friday that Alabama is a level worse without him on the court. His 28 minutes on Sunday are seemingly a good sign that he should be good for a normal rotation in the Sweet 16 and on. 

Injury: Right thumb surgery
Latest update: Available
2024-25 stats: 14.2 points, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game

What it means: Fland returned from a two-month absence due to a hand injury which he suffered on Jan. 18. He came off the bench in both of Arkansas’ NCAA Tournament games and contributed six points in both. Even if Fland — an elite on-ball scorer — is at full strength, Arkansas may not increase his minutes, as the team is clicking on all cylinders and that may mess with the flow. 

Injury: Upper body
Latest update: Questionable
2024-25 stats: 14.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game

What it means: The Red Raiders’ starting guard has been out since sustaining an injury in their Big 12 Tournament game against Baylor. Texas Tech made up for his absence, as Elijah Hawkins and Kerwin Walton stepped up in their fellow backcourt mate’s wake. Walton scored a team-high 27 points, leading the Red Raiders to an 82-72 win over UNC Wilmington on Thursday. Hawkins added 14 points in that game, and scored 16 on Saturday in their 77-64 win over Drake. Winning without McMillan, and his injury allowing others to gain confidence, are both significant positives for Texas Tech moving forward. If he can return, it’ll add yet another scoring threat to a team that’s loaded on offense. 

Injury: Foot
Latest update: Available
2024-25 stats: 14.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game

What it means: Williams played both of Texas Tech’s NCAA Tournament games, scoring 13 on Thursday against UNC Wilmington before dropping a season-high 28 points on Saturday against Drake. If the 6-foot-6 point forward was ailing in any way, it didn’t show in his play, as he led the Red Raiders into the Sweet 16. Williams, however, did go down briefly in the second-half of Saturday’s game holding his ankle, but it wasn’t serious and he finished the game. If at full strength, the Red Raiders seem primed to continue a deep March Madness run. 

Injury: Sprained right ankle
Latest update: Available
2024-25 stats: 10.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game 

What it means: Roberts played in both of Houston’s NCAA Tournament games. The Cougars dominated SIU Edwardsville on Thursday, and thus, only needed 20 minutes out of Roberts. On Saturday, though, he played 32 minutes, out-dueling Gonzaga‘s formidable frontline with 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists in their 81-76 win. The Gonzaga matchup would have looked a lot different had Roberts been out or limited. The Cougars are loaded with guards but don’t have a ton of offensive options in their frontcourt, so that falls on Roberts’ shoulders moving forward.

Injury: Shoulder
Latest update: Available
2024-25 stats: 11.1 points, 4.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game

What it means: Butler played in both of Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament games. He seemingly took it easy on Friday in the Wildcats’ 76-57 win over Troy, going scoreless in 25 minutes. His prints were all over their 84-75 win against Illinois on Sunday, as he scored 14 points and grabbed three steals. The Wildcats are now 20-6 in the games he has played in, and his health will continue to determine their ceiling moving forward. 

Injury: Right wrist
Latest update: Out for the season
2024-25 stats: 13 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game

What it means: Robinson had an up-and-down season in his first year at Kentucky, but his ability to score in a hurry will be missed. That said, the Wildcats have made up for his absence mainly because Butler is healthy, but also because fellow guards Koby Brea, Otega Oweh and Collin Chandler have stepped up.  

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