K-State men’s basketball roster hit hard by COVID ahead of Big 12 home opener vs. Texas
.jpg "Kansas State forward Kaosi Ezeagu, left, gestures during a conversation with coach Bruce Weber during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Marquette on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Nick Krug)")
Kansas State’s home Big 12 men’s basketball opener against Texas just got a whole lot more challenging for the Wildcats.
Because of COVID-issues within its roster, K-State will only have seven healthy scholarship players ready to take the court against the Longhorns at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats will barely meet the Big 12’s minimum cancellation/postponement threshold of six players and one coach. But they won’t have much of a bench against Texas or a full coaching staff. Avoiding foul trouble will be of the utmost importance.
The biggest absence will come on the sideline. Head coach Bruce Weber and associate head coach Chris Lowery will both miss tonight’s game because of COVID issues.
Shane Southwell will serve as head coach for this game.
On the court, K-State will miss the following players: Davion Bradford, Jordan Brooks, Maximus Edwards, Kaosi Ezeagu, Trey Harris, Logan Landers and Markquis Nowell.
Nowell missed K-State’s last game against Oklahoma while he was placed in COVID protocols, and he is unlikely to return to action. Bradford posted a video on social media saying that he has been placed in quarantine.
It is not known how long they will be out.
K-State coach Bruce Weber suggested the Wildcats could be without some key players when he spoke to media on Monday.
“Every day is a new adventure,” he said. “Any symptom, whatever, we have to get our guys tested. So I’d like to tell you it’s just Markquis, but every day is a new challenge and adventure. If you keep seeing my phone ding, it’s because there’s always something coming up. It’s college basketball, whatever sport it is, NFL, whatever. Right now every day is a new challenge.”
Texas (11-2, 1-0 Big 12) has won five straight games. K-State (8-4, 0-1) is looking to bounce back from a road loss against Oklahoma.
This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 11:40 AM.