NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Injuries Bettors Should Know

The Sweet 16 is here and the Final Four will be set in just four short days. Here are several key injury updates that savvy bettors need to know before placing their wagers.

PJ Washington

Team: Kentucky
Update: Washington appears ready to play in Friday's huge matchup with Houston. The 6-foot-8 first team All-SEC player is vital for the Wildcats' chances of advancing to the Sweet 16. Washington's scoring versatility is reflected in his per game averages:  14.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 41.9% on 3s.

Justin Robinson

Team:  Virginia Tech
Update:  The senior guard looks refreshed and replenished after he missed Virginia Tech's final 12 regular season games due to a lingering foot injury.

Before his injury, the Hokies were 17-3 overall and ranked 12th in the country. Robinson is shooting 41.1% from beyond the arc and 81.1% from the foul line. He is also great defensively, averaging 1.6 steals per game.

In his two tournament games, Robinson has averaged 11 points, three assists, and two steals. Most importantly he is averaging 28.5 minutes per game.

Ty Outlaw

Team: Virginia Tech
Update:  The Hokies were facing the possibility of being without the services of their 6-foot-6 senior for tonight's game after police found marijuana in his Blacksburg, Virginia, apartment. However, it was determined Outlaw would be available for Friday night's game after he was administered and passed a drug test.

This is critical news for the Hokies, who will need all hands on deck to defeat top-ranked Duke. Outlaw (8.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg) is the team's top 3-point shooter at 45.5%.

Kyle Ahrens, Cassius Winston

Team: Michigan State
Update: The Spartans have been battling injuries all season, and lost Kyle Ahrens (4.7 ppg) for the tournament with a back injury in their Big Ten title win.

The much larger concern has been with the lingering knee tendinitis and toe injury of Cassius Winston (18.9 ppg). The junior guard must continue to play at an extremely high level if the Spartans will advance to its first regional final since 2015.

He scored 26 points in the opening round win over Bradley, and his seven-point burst in less than a minute essentially ended Minnesota in the Round of 32. Winston is averaging over 35 minutes per game in the postseason run for the Spartans.

Phil Cofer

Team:  Florida State
Update: Cofer suffered a right foot injury in the ACC Tournament and did not play in the Seminoles opening round win over Vermont.  He then learned of the tragic news of his father's passing and was not with the team in their win over Murray State.

It is unclear if Cofer will join Florida State for the remainder of the tournament.

The 6-foot-8 senior is a valuable glue guy for the Seminoles, averaging 7.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in over 26 minutes per game. However, with 11 players averaging over 10 minutes per game, Florida State's depth will help account for his absence.