AUSTIN, Texas _ The Kansas State basketball team will be without one of its top reserves against Texas on Tuesday night.
Cartier Diarra, a 6-foot-4 sophomore guard, didn't make the trip to Austin because of an injured hand that will require surgery, K-State coach Bruce Weber confirmed. Diarra will be out for an undetermined amount of time.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed for Cartier and his family," Weber said in a statement. "He has worked hard on the court this year and I know he will work equally hard to come back strong. Our team has faced adversity many times this season and this is just another hurdle they must climb."
Diarra was absent from a team photo taken during practice Monday that the Wildcats posted on social media and was later spotted on campus with his shooting hand wrapped, according to sources. It is unclear how the injury occurred.
The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Diarra and the Wildcats. Diarra has come on strong of late, playing like one of K-State's top performers over the past four games. He has averaged 11.3 points, three assists and 2.5 rebounds during that stretch, delivering some memorable highlights along the way like a windmill dunk against Kansas and a jaw-dropping assist at Baylor.
K-State (18-5, 8-2 Big 12) is in first place of the conference standings, having won eight straight league games. Both of its losses came in early January when the Wildcats were dealing with injuries to Kamau Stokes and Dean Wade. They are 7-0 in Big 12 games when their roster has been at full strength. But they will have to try and beat the Longhorns without one key player.
Diarra has played in every game for the Wildcats this season. He is averaging 6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
The Wildcats will likely turn to sophomore guard Mike McGuirl and freshman Shaun Neal-Williams in Diarra's absence.
