SE: Support, Drive Brings K-State's Diarra Back Stronger from ACL Injury
Oct 23, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
It started with Luke Sauber, the Ice Family Basketball Center's Sports Medicine Coordinator, assistant athletic trainer for K-State men's basketball and Cartier Diarra's daily voice of encouragement.
After suffering a torn ACL in July of 2016, Diarra spent more time with Sauber than his teammates. When Diarra was having one of his "struggle days," Sauber found a way to pick him up.
"He always encouraged me at first because he's a trainer and he's dealt with injuries similar to this," said Diarra, who led K-State with 14 points in Saturday's 78-62 exhibition win against Missouri State. "He knows the process and what it takes, so listening to him helped. He was always giving me quotes when I was having struggle days because it's hard."
Then there was Ben O'Donnell, the team's strength and conditioning coach, who made sure Diarra did not sulk or settle in the weight room.
"Coach Ben kept pushing me past my limit," Diarra said. "He was telling me, 'Trust the process. Keep working. It's going to pay off.'"
The list of people involved with Diarra's recovery goes on and on.
Head coach Bruce Weber checked on his progress every day, as did Wildcat assistants Chris Lowery, Chester Frazier and Brad Korn. In the same building but working as an assistant coach for the women's team, Chris Carr, a former NBA player, even took an interest in Diarra.
"He was telling me, 'Keep working. You're going to be good and you're going to get through it,'" Diarra recalled hearing from Carr. "It's family-based. Everybody has hit me up, made sure I was good, came and checked on me, even the football coaches. I was pretty honored and blessed to receive that support from everybody."
With a solid support base and an extreme drive, Diarra was fully cleared about five months after his surgery, significantly faster than most.
"Faith," he said, was a big factor in his speedy return.
"I believe everything happens for a reason. This injury was something that made me stronger, and I just believed in the process," he said, before crediting Sauber and O'Donnell again. "We just worked hard every day and I believed in it."
Beyond the speedy return, Diarra increased his vertical jump from 43 inches before the injury to 45 when the team tested this summer. It's just one reason his teammates and coaches believe the 6-foot-4 guard will be a major factor for them in the 2017-18 season.
"He is an unbelievable athlete," Weber said. "He has great athleticism and strength. I am very confident he is going to be a nice factor for our team."
"I just feel like he's going to be a good player for us, someone else who plays with that chip on their shoulder and comes with a lot of emotion for the game," added junior guard Barry Brown. "He loves playing, whether it's defense, offense, scoring, just doing whatever it takes to win. I feel like he's really bought into the program and that's something I like to see."
How would junior guard Kamau Stokes describe Diarra? "Real exciting."
"He'll wow you in a minute, but he's a real solid point guard, does the right things," Stokes added of Diarra, who shoots left-handed. "He's a real solid kid and I'm proud of him for what he's doing. I'm ready to see what he does on the floor."
While off the floor, Diarra was able to view the game from a different angle: the bench. He began to see the game like a coach, and he hopes to bring those lessons to the court this season.
"I see the environment gets pretty wild and I know that can affect your game," he said, "but I feel like from watching it, I know when it's my time to step out there to just block that out and focus on the game."
Rated as the fourth-best player out of the state of South Carolina by 247Sports, Diarra described his game as a "slasher, driver, pass-first point guard." Considering the Wildcats return scoring options like Dean Wade, Brown and Stokes, he feels his style will fit the team perfectly.
"I like to get in the paint, draw defenders and kick it out to my open teammates. I like to see my teammates get in the flow of the game and get them feeling good," he said. "I feel like it's going to be a good role. I feel like we have a lot of good pieces. Everybody is needed. Everybody brings their own little taste of the team and everybody has something that another player doesn't have.
"That's why we're going to be a good team this year because we're all just puzzle pieces and when you put them together, you complete a puzzle."
After a season of watching, Diarra is just glad to be on the table amongst the other pieces this time around.
"It was pretty hard but it was also a learning experience," he said. "Now, I'm just excited to be able to step out there."
Tickets can be purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office by calling toll free at (800) 221-CATS (2287), by logging in online at www.kstatesports.com/tickets and in-person at Bramlage Coliseum.
It started with Luke Sauber, the Ice Family Basketball Center's Sports Medicine Coordinator, assistant athletic trainer for K-State men's basketball and Cartier Diarra's daily voice of encouragement.
After suffering a torn ACL in July of 2016, Diarra spent more time with Sauber than his teammates. When Diarra was having one of his "struggle days," Sauber found a way to pick him up.
"He always encouraged me at first because he's a trainer and he's dealt with injuries similar to this," said Diarra, who led K-State with 14 points in Saturday's 78-62 exhibition win against Missouri State. "He knows the process and what it takes, so listening to him helped. He was always giving me quotes when I was having struggle days because it's hard."
Then there was Ben O'Donnell, the team's strength and conditioning coach, who made sure Diarra did not sulk or settle in the weight room.
"Coach Ben kept pushing me past my limit," Diarra said. "He was telling me, 'Trust the process. Keep working. It's going to pay off.'"
The list of people involved with Diarra's recovery goes on and on.
Head coach Bruce Weber checked on his progress every day, as did Wildcat assistants Chris Lowery, Chester Frazier and Brad Korn. In the same building but working as an assistant coach for the women's team, Chris Carr, a former NBA player, even took an interest in Diarra.
"He was telling me, 'Keep working. You're going to be good and you're going to get through it,'" Diarra recalled hearing from Carr. "It's family-based. Everybody has hit me up, made sure I was good, came and checked on me, even the football coaches. I was pretty honored and blessed to receive that support from everybody."
With a solid support base and an extreme drive, Diarra was fully cleared about five months after his surgery, significantly faster than most.
"Faith," he said, was a big factor in his speedy return.
"I believe everything happens for a reason. This injury was something that made me stronger, and I just believed in the process," he said, before crediting Sauber and O'Donnell again. "We just worked hard every day and I believed in it."
Beyond the speedy return, Diarra increased his vertical jump from 43 inches before the injury to 45 when the team tested this summer. It's just one reason his teammates and coaches believe the 6-foot-4 guard will be a major factor for them in the 2017-18 season.
1?? year out of surgery... ??
— K-State Basketball (@KStateMBB) July 21, 2017
4??4??in. max vertical... ??
Hard work pays off. ??#KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/hL0KTjnJ9X
"He is an unbelievable athlete," Weber said. "He has great athleticism and strength. I am very confident he is going to be a nice factor for our team."
"I just feel like he's going to be a good player for us, someone else who plays with that chip on their shoulder and comes with a lot of emotion for the game," added junior guard Barry Brown. "He loves playing, whether it's defense, offense, scoring, just doing whatever it takes to win. I feel like he's really bought into the program and that's something I like to see."
How would junior guard Kamau Stokes describe Diarra? "Real exciting."
"He'll wow you in a minute, but he's a real solid point guard, does the right things," Stokes added of Diarra, who shoots left-handed. "He's a real solid kid and I'm proud of him for what he's doing. I'm ready to see what he does on the floor."
While off the floor, Diarra was able to view the game from a different angle: the bench. He began to see the game like a coach, and he hopes to bring those lessons to the court this season.
"I see the environment gets pretty wild and I know that can affect your game," he said, "but I feel like from watching it, I know when it's my time to step out there to just block that out and focus on the game."
Rated as the fourth-best player out of the state of South Carolina by 247Sports, Diarra described his game as a "slasher, driver, pass-first point guard." Considering the Wildcats return scoring options like Dean Wade, Brown and Stokes, he feels his style will fit the team perfectly.
"I like to get in the paint, draw defenders and kick it out to my open teammates. I like to see my teammates get in the flow of the game and get them feeling good," he said. "I feel like it's going to be a good role. I feel like we have a lot of good pieces. Everybody is needed. Everybody brings their own little taste of the team and everybody has something that another player doesn't have.
"That's why we're going to be a good team this year because we're all just puzzle pieces and when you put them together, you complete a puzzle."
After a season of watching, Diarra is just glad to be on the table amongst the other pieces this time around.
"It was pretty hard but it was also a learning experience," he said. "Now, I'm just excited to be able to step out there."
K-State continues 2017-18 schedule with exhibitions against Fort Hays State on Sunday and Emporia State on November 3. Several ticket options are available for the upcoming season. For information on those options, click here.Friday Jams. #KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/7VcBqjgv8a
— K-State Basketball (@KStateMBB) August 4, 2017
Tickets can be purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office by calling toll free at (800) 221-CATS (2287), by logging in online at www.kstatesports.com/tickets and in-person at Bramlage Coliseum.
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