Texas vs Purdue: Injury-Riddled Showdown

0:00On March 26, the number 11 Texas Longhorns faced the number 2 Purdue Boiler Makers in the sweet 16 of the men's NCAA A Tournament. This matchup happens Thursday at the SAP Center in San Jose, California with an elite eight birth on the line. Texas earned their spot with close wins over Brigham Young and Gonzaga, while Purdue handled Queens in Miami more comfortably. Both teams deal with back court injury worries heading in. Texas guard Jordan Pope is questionable after tweaking his ankle in the round of 32. He brings about 13 points and two rebounds per game as a starter. Purdue's C.J. Cox is also questionable from a knee issue against Miami, where he averages eight and a half points with nearly three rebounds. Texas coach Sean Miller expressed hope that Pope could suit up, noting extra rest has helped his recovery. The C.J.R.A. remains sideline for his 13th straight game with his own knee problem as expected. Pope shared a positive update from the locker room, insisting he's 100% playing despite

1:04skipping part of practice. Cox, rehabbing on a bike, echoed confidence in Purdue even without him, praising the team's depth on both ends of the floor. These injury questions add tension to what shapes up as a classic underdog clash, setting the stage for Thursday's action in the Bay Area.