Louisville will not have star guard Brown against Michigan State
Michigan State and Louisville are set to tip off around 2:45 p.m. Saturday on CBS.
Louisville will be missing star point guard and projected NBA draft lottery pick Mikel Brown, Jr. when it faces Michigan State basketball in a second round matchup in the 2026 NCAA Tournament . A Louisville program spokesperson said Brown, who has been limited throughout his freshman season, will miss both games of the Cardinals' opening weekend in Buffalo, ESPN reported .
Louisville bested South Florida, 83-79, in the 6/11 matchup in the East region. Not having to prep for Brown is a boost for Tom Izzo's Spartans, who are coming off a 92-67 blowout win against North Dakota State in their opening matchup. Tip-off is set for approximately 2:45 p.
m. at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Saturday, March 21. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
Mikel Brown, Jr. draft stock Draft analysts view Brown as a likely lottery pick in what's considered a loaded 2026 NBA Draft class. ESPN ranks Brown as the ninth-best prospect overall and the fifth-best guard on their big board.