Creighton's Mason Miller rolls ankle, helped to locker room during game vs. NC State

UPDATE, 5:10 p.m. ET: According to sideline reporter Andy Katz, citing head coach Greg McDermott, Mason Miller will not return to the game.

“I have an update on Miller,” Katz said. “No break, it is a sprained ankle. Greg McDermott telling me right before the half he is done for the game.”

The Creighton Blue Jays appear to have suffered an unfortunate injury in their first-round matchup with NC State, as Mason Miller looked to roll his ankle.

Late in the first half, Miller was defending near the top of the key and attempted to close out on a shot by Terquavion Smith. As he did, his right ankle caught the top of Smith’s right foot and rolled.

Miller initially tried to get up but came up limping badly. He was helped to the bench by an assistant coach and a trainer.

The 6-foot-9 player was carried to the end of the bench where he was looked at by a trainer. After a few minutes Miller was wheeled into the locker room for further evaluation.

Though it appears to be a significant injury for Mason Miller, he is further down the rotation for the Bluejays. Miller averages 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.

NC State was thrilled to make the Big Dance

It was close for Kevin Keatts and his NC State Wolfpack regarding their chances of making the NCAA tournament. In the end, NC State earned a bid as the 11-seed in the South region. After holding his breath on Selection Sunday until it was announced that his Wolfpack was a part of this year’s field, Keatts revealed what his reaction was to hearing NC State’s name called.

“It’s always an exciting time when you get to Selection Sunday,” said Keatts. “Even the coaches that know that they’re in the tournament, at large, there’s still some anxiety. The only time that I’ve ever really slept well is when I was at Wilmington, when we won the tournament. And you knew that you were in any way; you just didn’t know what seeds you were going to be. Anxiety, even going back to my days in Louisville, you know you’re in the field, you’ve done enough, and you just kind of wondering like: ‘Hey, is my name gonna get called?’”

Keatts actually didn’t have to wait too long to hear NC State’s name called, as the South bracket was the first bracket revealed. And for the committee getting that out of the way early for him, Keatts gave them a special thank you from the heart.

“I think it was a great shout-out to the committee for not making us wait a long time. It’s really good to see your name in the first bracket that came out. And our guys were excited, and you know we had just finished up practice and you could just hear everybody just start yelling. It’s a very exciting time.”