Joshua Jefferson injury update: Will Iowa State forward play vs Tennessee?

Iowa State men’s basketball could be getting a key member of its offense back for its Sweet 16 game of the Men’s NCAA Tournament.

Cyclones coach T.J. Otzelberger told reporters in Chicago on Wednesday, March 25 that Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson has seen “pretty significant progress” with his recovery from an ankle injury and that he is a game-time decision for Friday’s Sweet 16 game against 2-seed Tennessee.

Jefferson sustained an ankle injury in the opening minutes of the first round of March Madness, and has been sidelined since, including being ruled out in the second round against Kentucky.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness Sweet 16 games ranked as men’s NCAA Tournament nears Final Four

Getting Jefferson back against the Volunteers would benefit the Cyclones in 1-on-1 battles around the basket against Tennessee’s frontcourt, which has proven an issue given its size and length early in the tournament. He is second in scoring with 16.4 points per game and leads the Cyclones with 7.4 boards per game.

The Cyclones and the Volunteers are slated for a 10:10 p.m. ET tip-off on Friday at the United Center in Chicago. It is the third time Iowa State will play in the Sweet 16 under Otzelberger, who indirectly dismissed rumors that his name was being mentioned for the North Carolina head-coaching opening on Wednesday.

A win for Iowa State would send the Cyclones to the Elite Eight for the first time since the 2000 NCAA Tournament.

Here’s the latest on Jefferson:

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Men’s Sweet 16 players to watch during March Madness

How sweet it is. Sixteen teams remain in the March Madness 2026 tournament. Here are some top players and matchups to watch.
No. 11 Texas vs. No. 2 Purdue Texas: Matas Vokietaitis

**No. 11 Texas vs. No. 2**
Purdue Purdue: Braden Smith

**No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 4 Nebraska**
Iowa: Bennett Stirtz

**No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 4 Nebraska**
Nebraska: Pryce Sandfort

**No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Arizona**
Arkansas: Darius Acuff Jr.

**No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Arizona**
Arizona: Brayden Burries

**No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 Houston**
Illinois: Keaton Wagler

**No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 2 Houston**
Houston: Emanuel Sharp

**No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 1 Duke**
St. John’s: Zuby Ejiofor

**No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 1 Duke**
Duke: Cameron Boozer

**No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan**
Alabama: Labaron Philon Jr.

**No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan**
Michigan: Yaxel Lendeborg

**No. 3 Michgan State vs. No. 2 UConn**
Michigan State: Jeremy Fears Jr. (1)

**No. 3 Michgan State vs. No. 2 UConn**
UConn: Alex Karaban

**No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Iowa State**
Tennessee: Ja’Kobi Gillespie (0)

**No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Iowa State**
Iowa State: Milan Momcilovic

Will Joshua Jefferson play vs Tennessee? Iowa State guard status for March Madness Sweet 16 game

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger told reporters on Wednesday in Chicago that Jefferson will be a game-time decision for Friday night’s Sweet 16 game vs. Tennessee.

Being listed as a game-time decision is a positive sign for Jefferson, given that he was ruled out for the Cyclones’ second-round game vs. Kentucky.

“He’s working tirelessly every day. Countless sessions in the training room. Doing everything he can,” Otzelberger said Wednesday. “His ankle is getting better every single day. It’s going to take right up to game-time.

“We’re going to give it every possible chance to do that and he’s doing all that he can do. There’s not any percentages, predictions, unlikely, likely. … Each day, there is a pretty significant progress, but we’ll see where we’re at game time Friday night.”