The No. 2 Iowa State Cyclones have a critical Friday night outing against the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers on deck, but the status of perhaps their top player is in question.
After missing a Round of 32 game against Kentucky, could F Joshua Jefferson make his return to the NCAA Tournament on Friday? A 10:10 p.m. ET tip-off on TBS and truTV will reveal the answer.
Let’s dive into the latest Joshua Jefferson injury update, also weaving in how it could impact PrizePicks player projections for tonight’s Tennessee vs. Iowa State game.
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Joshua Jefferson Injury Update vs. Tennessee in NCAA Tournament
Jefferson, a senior for Iowa State, suffered an ankle injury during the early stages of the NCAA Tournament’s opening round. Three minutes into Iowa State’s eventual 108-74 triumph over Tennessee State, the fourth-year forward sustained the ailment and didn’t return to action.
Jefferson sat out of last Sunday’s game against Kentucky. Despite his absence, the Cyclones were firing on all cylinders. They hung 82 points on head coach Mark Pope’s crew, including 51 in the second half.
Entering Friday, it’s widely expected that Jefferson will be a game-time decision vs. the Volunteers. Speaking to the media this week, head coach T.J. Otzelberger provided an update on his star player.
"He’s working tirelessly every day,” Otzelberger said. “Countless sessions in the training room, everything he can. 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 everything that he can do."
Jefferson, who is out of his walking boot, has averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 35 games this season. The Las Vegas native is canning 47.1% of his shots from the field and 34.5% from 3-point land.
Joshua Jefferson Injury Impact: Which Iowa State Players to Target?
If Jefferson is out on Friday, or even if he’s active but hampered, ISU has some options to replace his production. Directly replicating his scoring punch is difficult, although a pair of players managed to do so in the Round of 32.
Leading the way for the Cyclones against Kentucky was G Tamin Lipsey. The senior, who averages 13.3 PPG, exploded for a game-high 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 3-for-6 from deep. It was the highest-scoring outing of his career, which says something considering he has 136 contests under his belt.
F Milan Momcilovic also chipped in 20 points, going 4-for-9 on 3-pointers. The junior forward is as pure a shooter as there is in the collegiate ranks, and he continues to show why. The Wisconsin native has made a video game-like 49.3% of his tries from beyond the arc.
The duo of Lipsey and Momcilovic could continue to bear some of the offensive load for the Cyclones as the NCAA Tournament rolls on.
Tamin Lipsey Projections, Picks vs. Tennessee
Here are some top Tamin Lipsey projections vs. Tennessee tonight, via PrizePicks.
- 14 Points
- 3.5 Rebounds (Goblin)
- 5.5 Assists (Goblin)
- 23.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- 30 Fantasy Score
- And More
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Make Tennessee vs. Iowa State Picks on PrizePicks
Can Iowa State keep its title hopes alive for one more game? Tennessee vs. Iowa State projections are plentiful, regardless of whether Joshua Jefferson plays on Friday night.
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