Manhattan ? Kansas State freshman Bill Walker will undergo knee surgery and be out for the rest of the season, coach Bob Huggins said Monday.

The 6-foot-6 Walker sustained a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Saturday’s 69-65 loss at No. 8 Texas A&M. Walker said he was injured on a drive to the basket early in the game, coming down awkward on his left leg.

“I felt it pop,” he said. “When that happens, you can’t get up.”

The injury was diagnosed with an MRI on Sunday and further tests Monday. Surgery is expected in a week to 14 days, followed by six to eight months of rehabilitation.

“This is a truly sad day for Bill and for our basketball program,” Huggins said before Kansas State’s 62-52 loss to Texas Tech. “He was making such significant strides with our team in practice and was ready to make an even bigger impact in games.”

Huggins said he expects Walker to be available by the start of next season.

It is the second ACL injury for Walker, who had surgery to repair his right knee and meniscus in 2003. Walker said that injury was much more serious, and he bounced back in about four months.

“I’ve been down this road before,” he said. “Pretty much, back to work.”

Walker sat at the end of the bench during Monday’s game, dressed in a gray Kansas State sweat suit and walking with a slight limp. He shouted encouragement to forwards Cartier Martin and David Hoskins throughout the game.

“It hurts because I know I would have been out there helping this team,” Walker said.