Jefferson's Status Uncertain in Tennessee vs Iowa State

0:00On March 26th, the Tennessee volunteers take on the Iowa State Cyclones in the Sweet 16 on Friday night. This matchup caps off the round, with both teams bringing strong defenses into the fray. The big question mark is, Iowa State's Joshua Jefferson, who's listed as a game time decision due to an ankle injury. Jefferson anchors the cyclones with his all-around game, putting up 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this season. His balance play makes him tough to replace, especially against Tennessee's style lineup. Iowa State proved they can win without him, knocking off Kentucky in the prior round. Coach T.J. Oetzelberger shared that Jefferson's putting an endless work in the training room, and his ankle improves a bit each day, right up to tip off. Looking back, Jefferson shone last season 2, averaging 13 points and 7.4 rebounds, while leading the big 12 in steals. He racked up double doubles and became the first in conference history to hit certain stat milestones in a single year.

1:03With Jefferson's status still up in the air, expect a gritty battle where every possession counts as these teams fight for a spot in the elite 8.