With big name programs like Duke, Gonzaga, UCLA, and Georgetown scattered through the rankings, the South Region is primed with intrigue.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils have made 20 straight NCAA appearances and will now look to add a fifth national title to their impressive resume. Jahlil Okafor, a prospect projected to be the top selection in the upcoming NBA Draft, gave fans a scare in late February when he crumpled to the floor in a win over North Carolina. The injury ended up being a mild left ankle sprain and Okafor was back after a one game absence. Ankle injuries weren’t just limited to Okafor as Justise Winslow and Amile Jefferson also turned their ankles during the season though neither player missed any time. The injuries appear to be non-issues and Duke remains a title contender.
The Robert Morris Colonials will look to be the first 16 seed to knock off a top-ranked opponent after an impressive comeback win over North Florida. Reserves Lucky Jones missed time earlier in the season with a concussion but led the team in scoring Wednesday with 21 points off the bench.
Seven of the top eight players in the Gonzaga rotation have played in all 34 games. The lone exception is freshman Josh Perkins who will redshirt after suffering a broken jaw five games into the season. Transfer Eric McClellan also missed time with a broken bone in his foot but has played in 14 of the Zags last 15 games.
For the Zags to advance they will first have to beat a North Dakota squad impacted by knee injuries. The problems began when true freshman Trey Miller was forced to redshirt the season with a significant knee injury. Another freshman, AJ Jacbson, missed three weeks in December with a serious knee ailment of his own. The Bison are as healthy as can be expected and will lean heavily on Lawrence Alexander.
Iowa State has benefited from the return of an injured player as Georges Niang has been the catalyst for the Cyclones’ second straight Big 12 tournament title. Niang’s 2013-14 season ended during last year’s tournament after he suffered a fractured foot. Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jameel McKay has played through a back injury but it shouldn’t be an issue moving forward.
The Georgetown Hoyas appear to be at full strength after junior guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera missed the team’s regular season finale with weakness in his knee. The injury didn’t appear to be an issue in Big East Tournament play where Smith-Rivera averaged 36.0 minutes of playing time.
The same can’t be said for Georgetown’s opening round opponent. The Eastern Washington Eagles have succeeded come despite a myriad of injuries. Forward Venky Jois missed time with a chronic ankle injury while the team’s top scoring threat Tyler Harvey was slow to bounce back from a thigh contusion. Even worse, a knee injury prematurely ended the season of reserve Sir Washington in early February.
Utah has had their share of injuries this season. Australian freshman Jakob Poetl has impressed despite dealing with a chronically inflamed ankle while Dakarai Tucker missed the first four games of the year with a broken rib. Junior forward Jordan Loveridge missed seven games following “minor” knee surgery and Kenneth Ogbe has been in-and-out of the lineup with a nagging groin injury. Ogbe is the only player still limited and the Utes remain a dangerous team.
Stephen F. Austin will look to pull off their second straight upset when the take on the Utes. However if they do it will likely be without one of their best defenders. Florida State transfer Bobby King suffered a non-contact knee injury in the team’s win over Sam Houston State and isn’t expected to play.
Larry Brown and his SMU Mustangs haven’t had many injuries to deal with though other off-the-court concerns have hovered around the team. Former McDonald’s All-American Keith Frazier was ruled academically ineligible after 17 games and senior Justin Martin left to pursue a professional career. Prospect Emmanuel Mudiay also opted to play overseas prior to the start of the season. However Brown continues to show his worth as a coach and has the Mustangs back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1993.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have been one of the healthier teams this season with their core rotation missing just one game to injury when reserve Josh Oglesby sat out the team’s win over Maryland with an illness. The team will face off against a Davidson team that hasn’t been quite so lucky. The Wildcats lost point guard Jack Gibbs for nearly a month after he underwent surgery to address a slight tear in his meniscus. Gibbs, who had previously torn the ACL in the same knee, has looked unencumbered since returning and remains the team’s second best scorer. Gibbs’ injury came on the heels of a foot injury that ended the season of starting forward Jake Belford. The team has survived the loss and continues to be one of the best offenses in the tournament.
Like Davidson, San Diego State has several players that have made regular appearance in the athletic training room, including a particularly startling incident. The team lost freshman Zylan Cheatham to a Jones fracture in his foot before the season ever began. Fellow freshman Malik Pope needed time to recover from a fractured leg sustained in high school. Matt Shrigley suffered a broken left elbow in an exhibition game and missed the team’s first six outings. Senior Aqeel Quinn needed surgery to repair a fractured finger but missed just three games. However the scariest injury occurred in December when Dwayne Polee II collapsed on the court. Polee was ultimately diagnosed with a heart condition though he has since been cleared to return to the court. The Aztecs will look to challenge a St. John’s team that is struggling despite having few injury problems. Sophmore Rysheed Jordan did miss time with a right patellar strain but played well in the team’s two recent blowout losses.
UCLA’s inclusion in the tournament of 64 was perplexing to some. Proving their naysayers wrong will be difficult with freshman Kevon Looney still recovering from a facial fracture. He has yet to get comfortable with the protective mask he is required to wear and a limited Looney would be detrimental to the Bruins’ postseason success. Guard Tony Parker (no, not that one) is playing well despite missing some time earlier in the year with back spasms.
When your campus is within walking distance from the clinic of renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, good health is to be expected. The UAB Blazers have been just that for a majority of the season. Williams “Ha Ha” Lee missed the first few games of the season rehabbing a knee injury but the Blazers have successfully avoided any devastating injuries.