Bruce Weber shares injury update on K-State guard Nijel Pack ahead of Marquette game
Three days have passed since Nijel Pack suffered a concussion at Kansas State men’s basketball practice, but the Wildcats need more time to figure out if he will be cleared to play Wednesday against Marquette.
“He is going through the protocols and it’s going to be a close call,” K-State coach Bruce Weber said on Tuesday. “Everything has got to go right. The doctor has to feel like he is ready. It’s about him and his future and not taking any chances.”
K-State will welcome Pack back to the lineup with open arms whenever he is deemed healthy. The sophomore guard is averaging 15.8 points per game, but he is more than just the team’s leading scorer. He is also K-State’s best shooter, primary point guard and top all-around player.
The Wildcats would much rather have him in the rotation than on the sideline for their biggest home nonconference game of the season at 8 p.m. in Bramlage Coliseum.
Both teams will be wearing “color rush” uniforms, with K-State sporting all lavender and Marquette breaking out all baby blue or yellow.
There is also more excitement than usual leading up to this game, because the Wildcats are coming off an emotional 65-59 victory over Wichita State. Beating the Shockers and the Golden Eagles in consecutive games would signal that this team could surprise when Big 12 play begins.
“We will see what happens,” Weber said of Pack. “But he has made strides and is feeling better. He will have almost two days to kind of get there.”
The good news for K-State is that it found a way to win without Pack against Wichita State.
Arkansas-Little Rock transfer Markquis Nowell replaced him in the starting lineup and delivered his finest game in a K-State uniform with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Selton Miguel (12 points, six rebounds) and Luke Kasubke (eight points, one rebound) also came off the bench and helped fill Pack’s void in the back court.
Pack was unable to be in attendance for the game after he took an elbow to the face during a practice on Saturday. No one realized he was seriously injured at the time, but he was later diagnosed with a concussion that night when he complained of a headache. So Pack watched the game from Kansas State’s hotel in Wichita with the lights off in his room.
But he seemed thrilled about the result and tweeted out some congratulatory words when the score went final.
Weber would prefer to have Pack back in the lineup against Marquette. He is confident the Wildcats can also win without him.
“I said we needed everyone (to beat Wichita State) and everyone had some production,” Weber said. “It’s going to be the same thing. When you lose someone like Nijel you have got a lot to make up. We are going to need everyone again if we are going to have success on Wednesday night.”
This story was originally published December 7, 2021 at 11:58 AM.