Kentucky
Mark Pope updates injury status of Jayden Quaintance
The Kentucky Wildcats had to return to the court Saturday night without their star center in Jayden Quaintance.
Coming back to the court from an ACL tear last season, Quaintance shined in his opening game against St. John’s and has eased himself back into game-play after nine months off the court. That is why it came as a surprise on Friday night when he was listed as out on the injury report.
Well, we got some more insight into why he was held out against Mississippi State in the pregame radio show. When asked about the injury, here is what Mark Pope had to say.
“He’s (Quaintance) just had a little bit of swelling, so we’re just kind of monitoring it,” Pope said. “And the most important thing is just his health. So, it’s going to be a little start and stop as we go. That’s just the process.”
So, for now, it doesn’t sound like anything that will keep JQ out for too long, though it’s unknown if he’ll return for either of next week’s games at LSU and at Tennessee.
The Cats have started to piece it together in the front court, but there is no denying the potential Quaintance has. When healthy, he is an NBA lottery pick. Now let’s hope he can get back onto the court soon to help the Cats make a run.
Kentucky
Who is Otega Oweh’s brother of Kentucky basketball star?
Kentucky basketball will be back in action on Sunday in the Round of 32 against Iowa State thanks to the heroics of guard Otega Oweh.
Oweh hit the game-tying buzzer-beater against Santa Clara in the first round, sending the game to overtime. The Wildcats ultimately won 89-84.
Advertisement
The back-to-back Second Team All-SEC selection comes from an athletic family. His brother, Odafe Oweh, plays in the NFL, recently signing a free agent deal with the Washington Commanders. Oweh played college football at Penn State, and he was a first-round pick in 2021.
He previously played for the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers, earning All-Rookie Team honors in 2021.
The younger Oweh led Kentucky to the Sweet 16 last season, and thanks to his clutch shot on Friday, UK is playing for a shot at a return trip to the tournament’s second weekend.
This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Who is Otega Oweh’s brother who plays in NFL?
Kentucky
Game time set for Iowa State vs. Kentucky in March Madness second round
Iowa State men’s basketball will play Kentucky in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament in St. Louis, Missouri, on Sunday, March 22.
The No. 2-seed Cyclones (28-7) are coming off a 108-74 win over Tennessee State. The No. 7-seed Wildcats (22-13) are coming off a thrilling 89-84 win over No. 10-seed Santa Clara, which featured a buzzer-beating logo 3-pointer by Kentucky to send the game into overtime.
Check below for the need-to-know game information for Iowa State’s first-round matchup in the NCAA Tournament:
Buy Iowa State NCAA tournament tickets vs. Kentucky
When is Iowa State vs. Kentucky in Men’s March Madness?
- Date: Sunday, March 22
- Location: Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri
What time does Iowa State play Kentucky in 2026 NCAA tournament?
- Time: approximately 1:45 p.m. CT
What channel is Iowa State vs Kentucky in March Madness?
- TV: CBS
- Stream: FUBO (free trial)
- Can’t watch? We’ll have live updates on DesMoinesRegister.com
Kentucky
Kentucky basketball vs Iowa State prediction, pick for NCAA game
Kentucky reacts to Otega Oweh clutch shot that saved season
Kentucky players and coach break down Otega Oweh clutch season saving shot after overtime win vs Santa Clara.
ST. LOUIS — Kentucky basketball survived. And advanced.
Thanks to its 89-84 overtime victory over Santa Clara on Friday, UK sealed a spot in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
But the challenge for coach Mark Pope and the Wildcats is about to get considerably tougher.
The next opponent for seventh-seeded Kentucky (22-13) is the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, Iowa State. The Cyclones had far less drama in their first-round matchup than the Cats. Iowa State trounced Tennesseee State, 108-74, in the game immediately following UK/Santa Clara at the Enterprise Center.
The Cyclones are one of the country’s best teams. They enter Sunday’s matchup 28-7 in 2025-26. ISU went 12-6 in the Big 12 during the regular season. Its conference tournament ended in agonizing fashion, however, falling at the buzzer to Arizona in the semifinals.
The winner of Sunday’s game between UK and ISU will clinch a spot in the Sweet 16. And pack their bags for Chicago, where the Midwest Region’s Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will be contested next week at the United Center.
Watch Kentucky vs. Iowa State on Fubo (free trial)
Here’s what to know about Kentucky’s second-round battle against Iowa State:
The Cyclones began the 2025-26 campaign 16-0. Not only was that the program’s best-ever start to a season, but it doubled as the longest win streak in school history. Iowa State also notched 25 wins prior to the postseason for only the third time in the program’s annals.
But if the Cyclones are to set a single-season school standard for wins, they’ll need to win out. The current record holder is the 1999-2000 club, which had 32 wins. To reach 33, Iowa State must win the national championship.
In just five seasons at the helm, T.J. Otzelberger has carved out plenty of space for himself in Iowa State’s record book.
He enters today with an overall record of 123-52. That’s the most wins for any ISU coach in the first five seasons of a tenure. Otzelberger was the quickest in program history to 100 victories, needing only 145 games. He also holds the Cylcones’ mark for wins over Associated Press top-25 foes (30).
His overall winning percentage (.714), conference winning percentage (.587) and home winning percentage (.874) also are No. 1 among Iowa State coaches. And Otzelberger’s six NCAA Tournament wins are two more than any other coaches the Cyclones have had.
He’s fourth on the school’s all-time wins list, trailing Johnny Orr (218), Louis Menze (166) and Glen Anderson (142).
It’s a safe bet that if Otzelberger stays in Ames, Iowa, long enough, he’ll also be atop that list in the future.
Joshua Jefferson is averaging 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.9 and 1.7 steals per game this season. That’s a stat line no Big 12 player ever has averaged in a single campaign. And, per the Cyclones’ official game notes, only five players in Division I history have done so since steals began being tracked in 1974-75. It’s a list that includes Larry Bird and Penny Hardaway.
But Jefferson’s status for Sunday is unclear.
He injured his left ankle in the first half of Friday’s rout and did not return. Jefferson made it to the team’s bench in the second half using crutches, with a boot on his left foot.
If he’s unable to take the floor Sunday, other Cyclones will have to step up.
Two of his teammates fit the bill.
Forward Milan Momcilovic is arguably the deadliest 3-point shooter in college hoops. He already has Iowa State’s single-season mark in that category, with 130 entering Sunday. Prior to Friday’s games, his 127 were tied for first nationally alongside Samford’s Jadin Booth.
More remarkably, his volume hasn’t adversely affected his accuracy. At 49.6% on the season, he also paces Division I in that category.
In the backcourt, senior guard Tamin Lipsey averages 13.3 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists per outing. He’s among the top 20 in the country in both assist-to-turnover ratio and steals per game.
If that’s not enough, he’s also the Cyclones’ career leader in steals (308) and games started (135).
Buy Kentucky NCAA Tournament tickets vs. Iowa State
Iowa State 71, Kentucky 68: With a healthy Joshua Jefferson, the Cyclones likely would be close to a double-digit favorite. But if he’s hobbled, that hurts Iowa State. And if he’s not able to play at all, that’s even tougher. Yet it’s not as if the Wildcats don’t have injury issues of their own. Starting point guard Jaland Lowe has been out since January. And forward Jayden Quaintance would need a miracle to be cleared Sunday.
Kentucky used up more energy — physically (going to OT) and emotionally (barely keeping its season alive) — than Iowa State.
It’ll be a bare-knuckled fight Sunday.
But Iowa State will eke out a narrow victory to bring down the curtains on Kentucky’s second season under Mark Pope.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
-
Detroit, MI4 days agoDrummer Brian Pastoria, longtime Detroit music advocate, dies at 68
-
Oklahoma1 week agoFamily rallies around Oklahoma father after head-on crash
-
Nebraska1 week agoWildfire forces immediate evacuation order for Farnam residents
-
Georgia6 days agoHow ICE plans for a detention warehouse pushed a Georgia town to fight back | CNN Politics
-
Alaska1 week agoPolice looking for man considered ‘armed and dangerous’
-
Science1 week agoFederal EPA moves to roll back recent limits on ethylene oxide, a carcinogen
-
Science1 week agoH5N1 bird flu spreads to sea otters and sea lions along San Mateo coast, wildlife experts say
-
Movie Reviews3 days ago‘Youth’ Twitter review: Ken Karunaas impresses audiences; Suraj Venjaramoodu adds charm; music wins praise | – The Times of India