NCAA Tournament Preview: Noteworthy Injuries

While much of the attention in the RotoWire College Hoops department shifts to teams at this time of year, the bread & butter of the coverage most of the season lies with individual players. Our breaking news team has tracked player injuries all season long, supplying data to most major hosts of college fantasy games. Here, we'll take that knowledge and apply it to the bracket, taking a closer examination of key injuries that can affect a team's ability to make a run.

Players Returning

Markus Howard, G, Marquette

Howard dealt with a wrist injury in the Big East semifinal loss against Seton Hall, but returned to action after briefly exiting. He did miss the game-winning shot, but it's hard to tell if the wrist came into play. Howard finished that game with 21 points across 33 minutes, and has already declared himself "good to go" for Marquette's first-round matchup against Murray State. While Howard has yet to miss a start all season, the Big East's leading scorer has dealt with minor cramps and a back issue which has limited him in a few games. I'll take his word for it here, though. Few first-round matchups will be more intriguing than his head-to-head showdown with Murray State's Ja Morant, where Marquette is currently a four-point favorite.

Tyus Battle, G, Syracuse

Battle missed Syracuse's only ACC Tournament game due to a back injury, and the Orange unceremoniously fell to Duke without their leading scorer. His absence was significant, as Battle logged 32 points when Syracuse upset Duke in overtime at Cameron Indoors (though 'Cuse later fell to Duke at home). My personal bracket currently has the tournament-tested Orange knocking off No. 1-seeded Gonzaga to get to the Sweet 16 -- a theory I convinced my Calcutta team to get behind. Gonzaga beat Washington and its zone by just two points earlier in the year, and Syracuse has a cast that disrupt Josh Perkins from facilitating the offense. That pick hinges on Battle being able to play heavy minutes, and my guess is he will. He'll have had more than 10 days to rest by the time Syracuse tips off.

Justin Robinson, G, Virginia Tech

Robinson hasn't seen the court for the Hokies since the end of January, but the team announced its senior point guard would suddenly be available for postseason play. I'm a bit skeptical about a sudden return to health, and the minutes are uncertain too after all of the time off. Some schools of thought even believe Robinson's presence (and uncertain reintroduction) might hurt the Hokies, who were able to defeat Duke without him, but posted just a 7-5 record in his 12-game absence. I'm confident Buzz Williams can figure it out, and see Virginia Tech making it at least as far as a Sweet Sixteen matchup against Duke. They have a lottery pick in Nickeil Alexander-Walker (who would play off the ball more with Robinson back), plus a stud big man in Kerry Blackshear.

Nick Ward, F, Michigan State

Ward missed a five-game stretch after breaking his hand in mid-February, but logged 11.0 MPG during three Big Ten tournament games. His absence and return have benefited Tom Izzo's squad by getting Xavier Tillman valuable experience as a starter. Plus, Michigan State gets a physical and tournament-tested big man to aid with depth, and provide offense as well. I have the Spartans dropping to Duke in the Elite Eight, but it's a reasonable contrarian play to take that one in the other direction, especially in large-field bracket tournaments.

Status Uncertain

Dean Wade, F, Kansas State

Wade was listed as questionable for the Big 12 tournament due to a right foot injury, but downgraded to doubtful when the Wildcats arrived at the site. He ended up sitting out, with starts going to Austin Trice and Cartier Diarra. Wade was set to be reevaluated Monday, but that provided no new news. The senior still may try to give it a go, but the doctors will have a say in it, and it may also be an issue of pain management. Wade provided coach Bruce Weber & co. with 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds through 25 games (all starts) this season, providing the Wildcats with a 6-10 forward that can hit from outside -- 42 percent from distance this season. Kansas State isn't lost without him, but I don't see them going to far if that turns out to be the case. For that reason, I have a 30-win UC-Irvine team taking down the Wildcats in the first round, though I'll feel much better about it if Wade gets ruled out.

Update (3/20):

Marcus Evans, G, VCU

VCU claims that Evans' MRI came back clean and that he has a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament, but I'm calling bogus here. Take a look at the replay and decide for yourself. VCU is a team that struggles to get much done on offense with one of the greatest disparities between KenPom's offensive and defensive efficiency marks in the nation. Now, they have to replace the 19.2 points he was averaging over the last five games before getting injured, and I'm not sure they have enough. The Rams opened as a one-point favorite, but the line has now moved to give Central Florida a 1.5-point edge. I have UCF picked across the board in my brackets.

P.J. Washington, F, Kentucky (Update 3/20):

This is a relatively new one that could really give Kentucky troubles. No, not troubles against Abilene Christian, but problems against Seton Hall (my prediction) and beyond. Washington being seen in a walking boot is apparently just a precaution, but any time a team's highest used player has an injury scare like this, it's a concern. Once one of my favorite contrarian Final Four picks (36.4 percent of ESPN brackets have UNC), I'm backing off a little now.

Kyle Ahrens, G/F, Michigan State

Ahrens needed to be carted off with an air cast in the Big Ten title game against Michigan, but like Evans above, the team later came out with a statement that suggested it was not as bad as it seems. His injury is now being referred to as a "just a severe leg" sprain and the team is saying he could return in the tournament. I'm not buying this one either, but at least Ahrens doesn't play as pivotal of a role for the Spartans as Evans does for the Rams. It hurts their depth and forces Tom Izzo to turn more to Matt McQuaid and Aaron Henry, but like I said above, I've still got Michigan State reaching the Elite Eight.

Nick Weatherspoon, G, Mississippi State

Weatherspoon hasn't played a game for the Bulldogs since Feb. 12 due to an unspecified violation of team rules, and while the Bulldogs won four in row without him against lesser SEC teams, they fell to Auburn and Tennessee (twice) before the end of the year. While the focus of the team has been on his brother Quinndary (18.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg), Nick has chipped in 9.6 PPG of his own and could provide another weapon for a first-round matchup against Liberty. The school hasn't provided much of an update, but the Mississippi Clarion Ledger boldly predicts Weatherspoon will return after being spotted with his teammates in team gear. He probably wouldn't take back his starting job from Tyson Carter, but he's another scorer nonetheless. I have the Bulldogs scraping by Liberty before getting bounced by Virginia Tech. Weatherspoon's returns helps their chances, but I don't think it will be enough to get to Duke in the Sweet 16.

Update 3/20:

Marques Bolden, C, Duke

Not much attention has gone to Duke's backup center since the return of Zion Williamson, but it's worth noting Zion had to play all 40 minutes in the ACC title game. Bolden is now the one dealing with a knee injury, and his starting spot has since gone to Javin DeLaurier. Problem is, there's no depth (outside of Jack White) if either option gets into foul trouble. During the regular season, DeLaurier has been the more versatile big man, while Bolden the more physical one and better shot blocker. I have Duke making the title game with or without Bolden, but his presence would make me feel a lot better about it.

I'll admit this article focuses on high major teams, but if there's anyone I missed that you'd like me to look into, please drop some names in the comments section.