As the Michigan State basketball program takes to the court for the Sweet 16 round of March Madness, the Spartans have already had their fair share of injuries to their roster throughout the 2025-2026 season. Now as they prepare to face off against the UConn Huskies on Friday, March 27, 2026, there are some lingering questions about who will – and won’t – be able to play tonight.
Here’s everything to know about the health and injury status updates from the Michigan State basketball team going into the Sweet 16 round of the 2026 March Madness Tournament. For a full schedule of all March Madness Sweet 16 games, click here.
Core Absences Will Likely Impact the Team’s Depth
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – FEBRUARY 04: Jaylen Crocker-Johnson #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers drives to the basket against Divine Ugochukwu #99 of the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Williams Arena on February 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The most significant blow to Michigan State comes from the absence of guard Divine Ugochukwu, who has been rule out due to a foot injury that ended his season earlier in February 2026. The injury has sidelined a developing contributor to the Spartans’ game on the court, particularly one who provided valuable minutes when he was off of the bench and helped in defensive situations with ball-handling relief. Head coach Tom Izzo confirmed that Ugochukwu will not return for the remainder of the NCAA March Madness Tournament, leaving the Michigan State basketball team with a thinner backcourt than they had anticipated at the start of the season.
Another core absence and player who has been out long-term is forward Kaleb Glenn, who suffered from a torn patellar tendon during offseason workouts and has not played at all this season. Glenn’s void has been felt mostly in terms of frontcourt depth and athletic versatility being lacking without his presence in games, as he was expected to be a key rotational piece entering this year. Without him, the Michigan State basketball program has had to rely more heavily on its core group of big men to handle physical matchups in the paint.
Denham Wojcik is Currently Questionable Though Likely to Play Tonight
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 13: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Denham Wojcik #10 against the UCLA Bruins during the first half in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 13, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Despite these absences from Glenn and Ugochukwu, there is some positive news for the Michigan State basketball team in that guard Denham Wojcik has been listed as questionable due to a lingering shoulder issue, though reports suggest he is expected to play through the discomfort of the injury. His availability, even if he his at less than 100 percent, is crucial for Michigan State to maintain guard depth and defensive intensity against a talented UConn backcourt. Wojcik’s toughness reflects a broader theme for Michigan State during the 2026 NCAA Tournament as many of their players have stepped up despite their physical limitations. The ability to contribute, even in a limited capacity, can have drastic impact in tightly contended games.
Michigan State will face off against UConn on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 9:45 PM ET / 8:45 PM CT / 6:45 PM PT.
Michigan State Injury Status Report Ahead of Sweet 16 Game Against UConn