Upcoming Match-ups

Injury News and COVID Absences for the Sweet 16 of March Madness

John Hyslop

by John Hyslop in College Basketball

Updated Mar 26, 2021 · 5:35 PM PDT

Marcus Sasser, Guard, Houston
Houston guard Marcus Sasser (0) looks to pass the ball to guard DeJon Jarreau (3) under pressure from Cincinnati Bearcats guard Jarron Cumberland, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
  • Three of the 16 remaining teams in the 2021 NCAA Tournament will be missing key players in the Sweet 16 round
  • See which players are injured or unavailable along with the point spread for their team’s next game
  • The list below will be updated until the round of 16 is complete

The Sweet 16 round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament will get underway on Saturday and wrap up  Sunday. While injuries have not played a huge role in the tournament, some teams are being affected and it’s important to keep up. Players being limited or out all together can have a huge impact in the outcome of these games.

There are more than a few significant injuries to be aware of heading into the Sweet 16.

Key Player Injuries and COVID Absences in the Sweet 16

Team Player (Position) Injury Status Statistics Next Game
Houston Dejon Jarreau (PG) Hip Questionable 10.6 PPG, 4.2 APG, 5.3 RPG Syracuse vs Houston (-6.5)
Michigan Isaiah Livers (F) Stress Fracture (Foot) Out 13.1 PPG, 2 APG, 6 RPG Florida State vs Michigan (-2)
Villanova Colin Gillespie (PG) Torn MCL Out 14 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.3 RPG Villanova vs Baylor (-7.5)

Table last updated March 26th.

Dejon Jarreau (PG), Houston

The only player from the table above that will suit up is Dejon Jarreau of Houston. The talented point guard hurt his hip and only played one minute in the Cougars 87-56 first round win over Cleveland State. He pushed through the pain and played in Houston’s 63-60 win over Rutgers but was clearly not 100%.

Despite not being 100%, Jarreau was one of only two Houston players to crack double digits in scoring against Rutgers. Jarreau finished the game with 17 points while also pulling down five rebounds. He is listed as questionable for this one but almost certainly seems like he will give it a go. Jarreau is one of the most important players on the Houston roster so his availability is key.

Isaiah Livers (F), Michigan

After beating LSU 86-78 in the second round, Michigan appears to be clicking despite not having Isaiah Livers. LSU was the 23rd best team in the country according to KenPom, so now the Wolverines have beaten a top flight school. The road to the Final Four won’t get any easier in the Sweet 16 as they are being matched up with Florida State Sunday.

Livers was Michigan’s second leading scorer this season, averaging 13.1 points per game but his three-point shooting will be missed most in this game.  Only six teams have held opponents to a worse three-point shooting percentage in the last three games than the Florida State Seminoles. Livers has the size and accuracy to get the ball over the long Seminole defenders and will surely be missed.

Collin Gillespie (PG), Villanova

Villanova didn’t win either of the first two games Collin Gillespie missed after tearing his MCL. The Wildcats looked like they could be headed for an early exit from the tournament but things move fast in March. After two rounds in the books, Gillespie will be in attendance for Villanova’s Sweet 16 game with the Baylor Bears Saturday.

The Wildcats would surely like to have Gillespie in uniform rather than street clothes but injuries happen. Gillespie’s vision and scoring prowess will be missed against the one-seeded Bears but most of all his ability to not turn the ball over will be missed most. Gillespie was 15th in the nation this season in assist to turnover ratio while only committing 32 turnovers.

Author Image