Why Joshua Jefferson isn’t playing today for Iowa State with injury news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Iowa State Cyclones ended up as a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament in large part because of how special a college basketball player Joshua Jefferson is.
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That makes the news before Sunday’s Round of 32 clash with Kentucky a bit of a March Madness bummer.
The Cyclones decided that Jefferson won’t play, according to insider Jeff Goodman.
“Huge loss for the Cyclones,” Goodman wrote on X.
Jefferson entered the NCAA Tournament averaging 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.
Iowa State will have to get past Kentucky without him.
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Why isn’t Joshua Jefferson playing today?
Jefferson is absent Sunday do to an injury sustained during the Round of 64.
During the first half against 15-seed Tennessee State, All-American forward Joshua Jefferson went down with a nasty-looking left ankle injury.
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He didn’t land on anyone else. He just found a way to turn his foot in a major way as he came to the floor after attacking the basket.
Jefferson eventually was spotted on crutches and never came back to the game.
Now, he’s missing with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. Other Cyclones are going to have to step up.
