Joshua Jefferson (ankle) out for Iowa State against Kentucky

Field Level Media|published: Sun 22nd March, 14:18 2026

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Tennessee State at Iowa State

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Joshua Jefferson (5) is helped off of the court after suffering an apparent injury to his left leg against Tennessee State Tigers during the first half of a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Iowa State will be without its top player in Sunday's NCAA Tournament second-round game against Kentucky in St. Louis.

Senior forward Joshua Jefferson, a consensus second-team All-American, has been listed as out on the NCAA's official injury report.

Jefferson sprained his left ankle just 2:37 into Iowa State's 108-74 first-round victory over Tennessee State on Friday. Though X-rays showed no break, Jefferson returned to the bench in a walking boot and did not play again.

The 6-foot-8 forward averages 16.4 points, a team-high 7.4 rebounds along with 4.8 assists for the second-seeded Cyclones (28-7), who are shooting for their third Sweet 16 berth in five years under head coach T.J. Otzelberger.

Seventh-seeded Kentucky (22-13) seeks its second consecutive Sweet 16 spot. The Wildcats have not gone past the regional semifinals since 2019.

--Field Level Media