Iowa State basketball star Joshua Jefferson shares ankle rehab routine
Iowa State basketball star Joshua Jefferson shares his ankle rehab routine.
Iowa State basketball standout Joshua Jefferson will not play in Friday’s Sweet 16 March Madness game against Tennessee, according to the team’s social media account.
The team’s tweet announcing Jefferson being out came just about an hour before tip-off. Two hours before tip, an NCAA player availability report listed Jefferson as questionable.
On Wednesday, head coach T.J. Otzelberger said Jefferson would be a game-time decision for the Tennessee contest. On Thursday, the forward told reporters that his ankle is getting better and that he was able to walk again.
The All-American suffered a sprained left ankle in the opening-round victory over Tennessee State on March 20, which forced him to be sidelined for the Cyclones’ second-round win over Kentucky on March 22. It was the first game Jefferson missed since arriving at Iowa State for the 2024-25 season.
Jefferson’s absence could loom large against the Vols. He is Iowa State’s second-leading scorer (16.4 points per game) and assist man (4.8). His 7.4 boards per game are tops for the Cyclones, as is his 21.8 defensive rebounding percentage. Tennessee is the country’s best offensive rebounding team, claiming 44.8% of its missed shots this season.
Friday night’s game will tip at approximately 9:10 p.m. CT and be broadcast by TBS. The winner will play either No. 1 Michigan or No. 4 Alabama on Sunday at the United Center in the Elite Eight.
