Iowa State is a 2-seed for a reason. The Cyclones are 28-7, ranked sixth in both KenPom and NET, and have been in the AP Top 25 for 51 consecutive weeks. They started the season 16-0. Under T.J. Otzelberger, they have been a top-15 defensive unit nationally in each of his five seasons. They have three players who earned NABC All-District First Team honors. This is a fundamentally different challenge than Santa Clara. But they might be without their best player. Joshua Jefferson — AP Second Team All-American, 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, two triple-doubles this season — sprained his ankle in Friday's first-round blowout of Tennessee State and left in a walking boot. If Jefferson is out or limited, this game changes entirely. Here are the three matchups that will decide whether Kentucky reaches the Sweet Sixteen for the second straight year.
Read full storyPosition-by-position breakdown of projected starters
SR · 6-5 · 210 lbs
Tamin Lipsey
SR · 6-2 · 185 lbs
SR · 6-5 · 189 lbs
Milan Momcilovic
JR · 6-6 · 210 lbs
FR · 7-0 · 250 lbs
Joshua Jefferson
SR · 6-7 · 220 lbs
Kentucky
Otega Oweh
18.2 PPG · 4.6 RPG · 2.6 APG
Denzel Aberdeen
13.2 PPG · 2.6 RPG · 3.6 APG
Malachi Moreno
8 PPG · 6.4 RPG · 1.8 APG
Iowa State
Tamin Lipsey
13.3 PPG · 4 RPG · 5 APG
Milan Momcilovic
15.5 PPG · 3.8 RPG · 1.5 APG
Joshua Jefferson
16.9 PPG · 7.6 RPG · 4.9 APG