Kansas State's injury list is about to get one slot shorter, and another key player could be making a surprise return sooner than expected. Interim head coach Matthew Driscoll shared the latest updates following Saturday’s 77-68 loss to TCU.
If he comes back healthy, Abdi Bashir Jr. might just be the difference maker in the Big 12 tournament.
Matthew Driscoll provides long-awaited update on Abdi Bashir Jr.
Kansas State hasn’t seen Bashir in the starting lineup since Jan. 17 against Oklahoma State, a game the Wildcats dropped on the road 84-83. Early reports following the contest in Stillwater indicated Bashir needed foot surgery and would miss 4-6 weeks as a result.
Ahead of tipoff against the Horned Frogs, he was a game time decision, and the time frame – it’s right on track. Driscoll, however, has seen this sort of thing before.
“With [Bashir], when you come off that injury, I’ve had three guys that have been through this,” Driscoll said. “Each one of them has had a different scenario.”
According to Driscoll, Bashir has been active in practice. Out of an abundance of caution, however, he doesn't want him to re-enter competition too early.
“One [player] was able to come back and get 33 his first game back at Penn State,” Driscoll said. “One of them came back and then he kind of whacked out a little bit at Wyoming and it didn’t go quite as well for him, and then it took him a little bit longer to get in it.”
Elias Rapieque, Andrej Kostic among other Kansas State returners
Both Elias Rapieque and Andrej Kostic are among the list of Kansas State players returning from injury, each making an impact in their first few games back. A return from Bashir adds much needed fuel to an already fizzling-out fire, and could come at just the right time.
Bashir posted impressive three-point percentages through his first five games of conference play, knocking down as many as six in a single game against Arizona State. Prior to injury, his average points per game total sat at 13.2 with a season-high coming against Nebraska in November.
Bashir’s turnover rate – little to none. He’s also a regular in the assist category and a force to be reckoned with in the midrang. But according to Driscoll, it’s just a matter of time.
“It takes time to warm it up and it takes time to cool it down,” Driscoll said. “[Bashir] loves the game, and he loves to play, but it’s going to be a gametime decision until it’s not.”
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