MANHATTAN, Kan. — Four years ago after he had run off the bad seeds from his program and athletic director John Currie had given him the chance to hit reboot, Kansas State coach Bruce Weber stood in front of his players and announced they needed a defensive stopper.



Weber was looking for a veteran to volunteer, an old guy to set the tone and reestablish a culture of caring about the right things — like the group he inherited, led by Rodney McGruder, that won a share of the Big 12 title in 2013. Barry Brown Jr. raised his hand. “I’ll be the stopper,” he declared.



Weber shushed Brown, knowing this wasn’t a role for a skinny little freshman guard. It was a job you had to desire but also earn. Only Brown persisted. “No, I’m going to be the defensive stopper.”



“OK,” Weber conceded. “We need another one.”



Four years later as Brown prepares to play his final game at Bramlage...