UConn Huskies is entering the Sweet 16 with a key advantage — a clean injury report at one of the most physically demanding points of the season.
As the Huskies prepare to face the Michigan State Spartans, they are not listing any players on their availability report, a notable development following recent concerns about guard Silas Demary Jr.
The update comes on the heels of UConn’s 73-57 win over UCLA, where Demary made a surprising return despite dealing with a Grade 2 high ankle sprain along with calf and Achilles issues — injuries that typically sideline players for weeks.
“I knew after Friday I was going to play,” Demary said, via Hartford Courant. “I was going to do whatever I had to do to get on the floor to be part of this.”
Demary’s Return Stabilizes UConn Rotation
GettySilas Demary Jr. of the Connecticut Huskies reacts during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game against the Xavier Musketeers.
Though Demary finished with just two points, his impact was evident in other areas.
UConn outscored UCLA by 22 points during his 22 minutes on the floor, a decisive margin in a 16-point win. His presence helped ignite a key second-half run while providing defensive pressure and ball-handling stability.
“This man took the court eight days after taking a high ankle sprain,” coach Dan Hurley said. “That’s a pretty remarkable warrior.”
Demary’s return also allowed UConn to deploy multiple ballhandlers, pairing him with backup guard Malachi Smith while improving spacing and tempo control.
“He’s a difference-maker,” Hurley added.
The Huskies (31-5), a No. 2 seed, now enter the Sweet 16 with their full rotation available — a significant development this late in the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan State Dealing With Key Absences
Michigan State, meanwhile, will not be at full strength.
The Spartans have ruled out both Divine Ugochukwu and Kaleb Glenn, removing two depth pieces from their rotation ahead of the matchup.
Ugochukwu, a rotational guard who started games earlier in the season, has been sidelined with a foot injury since early February, which required surgery. He provided backcourt depth, defensive energy and ball-handling support before the setback.
Glenn, a transfer forward, has been out with a torn patellar tendon suffered before the season. He was expected to add scoring and perimeter shooting after a productive stint at Florida Atlantic, but he has not appeared this year.
While Michigan State has continued to find production from its core rotation, the absence of both players limits depth and versatility entering a high-intensity tournament game.
Huskies Carry Momentum Into Sweet 16
UConn’s win over UCLA highlighted its balance on both ends of the floor.
Alex Karaban led the Huskies with a career-high 27 points, while contributions from players such as Jayden Ross and Tarris Reed Jr. underscored the team’s depth.
But Demary’s presence may be the most significant factor moving forward.
His ability to defend, facilitate and manage tempo provides stability for a team with championship aspirations — even if he is not fully healthy.
“His presence just makes everything so much easier for us out there,” Karaban said. “How much more elite we are defensively with him in there.”
Health Could Be a Decisive Factor
At this stage of the NCAA Tournament, availability often plays as large a role as execution.
Teams are frequently managing injuries or shortened rotations, making UConn’s clean bill of health a potential advantage.
With Demary trending upward and the rest of the roster available, the Huskies enter the Sweet 16 in a position of relative strength compared to a Michigan State team dealing with absences.
As both programs prepare for a high-stakes matchup, the contrast in health could become a defining storyline.
For UConn, simply having its full roster intact may prove as valuable as any tactical adjustment.
UConn Gets Major Silas Demary Jr. Injury Update Before Sweet 16 vs Michigan State