As the Sweet 16 matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Purdue Boilermakers takes to the arena during the 2026 March Madness Sweet 16 round of men’s basketball, there are some critical injuries to consider on both sides of the court. For the Texas basketball program, their backcourt is in question – while their front court faces uncertainty of key size players.
Here’s everything to know about the injury status updates of Texas basketball players going into the first game of the Sweet 16 round on Thursday, March 26, 2026. A full schedule of Sweet 16 games, including how to watch, is available here.
Texas Injury Updates as Backcourt Concerns Loom
GettyPORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 21: Jordan Pope #0 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates after making a shot against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
The biggest storyline for Texas centers on guard Jordan Pope, whose status remains uncertain heading into the game. Pope suffered a twisted ankle during the Longhorns’ Round of 32 upset win over Gonzaga, and his availability has been in doubt ever since.
Reports indicate that Pope was able to participate in practice leading up to the game, but only in a limited capacity and doing very little in a 90 minute practice session. Despite that, there is still optimism that he will attempt to play during the Sweet 16, even if he isn’t at full strength going into the game against Purdue. He is officially considered a game-time decision, which adds ane element of unpredictability to the Texas basketball rotation.
This is significant because Pope has been a steady presence in the Longhorns’ backcourt, providing scoring and ball-handling during their surprising tournament run. If he is limited or ineffective during the Sweet 16, then Texas may need to reply more heavily on secondary guards and bench contributors to absorb his minutes of playing time.
A Key Player on the Front End of Play also Remains Out
GettyAUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 14: Lassina Traore #23 of the Texas Longhorns reaches for a pass while defended by Devin McGlockton #99 of the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Moody Center on January 14, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Scott Wachter/Getty Images)
Additionally, Texas has already been dealing with a longer-term absence in the frontcourt. Forward Lassina Traore has been out since early February with a knee injury and remains unavailable for this matchup. While the team has adapted without him, his absence reduces depth and physicality inside, which is something that could matter against a Purdue team known for its size and structure across their spread on the court.
Making a run for advancement into the Elite Eight, the Texas basketball program has certainly been the Cinderella story of this year’s March Madness men’s basketball tournament. Hook ’em Horns!
The Texas Longhorns will face off against Purdue at 7:10 PM ET / 6:10 PM CT / 4:10 PM PT at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The game can be streamed on Fubo, Sling, Direct TV, Paramount+, and for free through the March Madness Live app and NCAA.
Texas Injury Status Update Ahead of Sweet 16 Game Against Purdue