Iowa State basketball star Joshua Jefferson is listed as questionable for Sunday’s March Madness game vs. Kentucky on the initial availability report released by the NCAA on Saturday night.
The Cyclones and Wildcats will play a second-round game at approximately 1:45 p.m. CT in St. Louis. CBS will have the telecast.
The NCAA is expected to release an updated availability report 90 minutes before tip-off.
Jefferson, a second-team Associated Press All-American, suffered an ankle injury in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. He was injured 2 1/2 minutes into the game and did not return.
“It’s a little sore, but I was feeling much better this morning than I was before I fell asleep,” Jefferson told reporters on Saturday, March 21. “Taking off (of practice) for today, so out today, and then I’ll see how it feels in the morning.”
Cyclones coach T.J. Otzelberger indicated early Saturday that Jefferson would be doubtful for Sunday.
“Right now, we’re continuing to evaluate,” Otzelberger said. “It appears unlikely, but you never want to rule anything out, so we’ll just continue to do what we can in his best interest and we’ll be prepared to go either way.”
Asked what it would take for him to play Sunday, Jefferson said: “I need to feel like myself. …. What you guys have seen all season from me, being able to be versatile on the floor and make the moves I’ve been making all year.”
Iowa State’s Mason Williams is listed as out on the availability report. Xzavion Mitchell is listed as questionable. Their status hasn’t changed for most of the season.
Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance are listed as out for Kentucky.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State basketball’s Joshua Jefferson listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
Reporting by Register staff report, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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