Top NCAA Tournament Stars Sidelined by Injuries

Injuries to key players like Duke's Caleb Foster and Texas Tech's Feron Hunt will impact teams' March Madness hopes.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 9:27pm

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As the 2026 NCAA Tournament gets underway, several top teams and players will be missing key contributors due to injuries. Duke, North Carolina, Texas Tech, BYU, and Gonzaga are among the programs dealing with significant player absences as they try to make deep tournament runs.

Why it matters

Injuries to star players can drastically alter the landscape of the NCAA Tournament, potentially derailing championship aspirations for some of the nation's top teams. These absences will force coaches to adjust their game plans and rotations, potentially opening the door for lesser-known players to step up and make an impact.

The details

Duke will be without star point guard Caleb Foster, who suffered a broken right foot, while big man Patrick Ngongba II is questionable with a foot injury. North Carolina's Armando Wilson, a first-team All-American, is out for the season after undergoing multiple hand and thumb surgeries. Texas Tech's Feron Hunt, a projected first-round NBA draft pick, tore his ACL and will miss the tournament. BYU sharpshooter Tanner Saunders and Michigan backup guard Jett Cason also suffered season-ending ACL tears. Gonzaga's Julian Huff, the team's second-leading scorer, is doubtful to play in the first two rounds due to a torn meniscus.

  • Caleb Foster suffered his broken foot in Duke's regular-season finale against North Carolina.
  • Armando Wilson first broke his left hand and then broke his right thumb in a practice drill in early March, ending his season.
  • Feron Hunt tore his ACL against Arizona State on February 17.
  • Tanner Saunders tore his ACL against Colorado on February 14.
  • Jett Cason suffered his torn ACL against Illinois on February 27.

The players

Caleb Foster

Duke's starting point guard who suffered a broken right foot and is likely out until the Final Four.

Armando Wilson

North Carolina's star freshman forward who led the team in scoring and rebounding before suffering season-ending hand and thumb injuries.

Feron Hunt

Texas Tech's first-team All-American big man who tore his ACL and will miss the NCAA Tournament.

Tanner Saunders

BYU's third-leading scorer and top 3-point shooter who suffered a torn ACL.

Jett Cason

Michigan's backup point guard and best 3-point shooter who tore his ACL.

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What they’re saying

“I can tell you he's improving. I feel very positive about it, but I can't say what that means as far as later in the week in terms of timing or readiness, because we have to take it step by step.”

— Jon Scheyer, Duke Head Coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

These high-profile injuries will force top teams to adjust their rotations and game plans, potentially opening the door for lesser-known players to emerge as tournament heroes. Fans will be left to wonder what could have been if these star players had remained healthy.