As we hit the home stretch of the college basketball regular season, most programs have either found their rhythm or are still searching for answers. For Kansas State, it’s becoming increasingly clear which category they fall into.
The Wildcats were handed a brutal 91-62 loss at home by Cincinnati on Wednesday night, a game that saw them surrender 53 points in the first half alone. That kind of defensive collapse wasn’t just a bad night-it was the latest chapter in a season that’s spiraling fast.
Kansas State now sits at 10-14 overall and a staggering 1-10 in Big 12 play. To put it plainly, the wheels have come off.
And it’s not just the standings telling the story. The frustration is spilling over into the stands-and the locker room.
Fans at Bramlage Coliseum were reportedly seen wearing paper bags over their heads during the blowout, a visual protest that underscores the growing discontent surrounding the program. Since reaching the Elite Eight in 2022, the Wildcats are just 26-31 under head coach Jerome Tang.
That postseason run now feels like a distant memory.
Tang’s tenure started with promise. He brought energy, a strong vision, and immediate success to a program looking for a spark.
But the last two seasons have seen Kansas State miss the NCAA Tournament, and unless something dramatic changes, they’re headed for a third straight absence. That kind of skid in the ultra-competitive Big 12 is tough to survive.
What’s making things even more tense in Manhattan is Tang’s postgame reaction following Wednesday’s loss. He didn’t hold back-and his words are making waves.
“This was embarrassing,” Tang said. “These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform.
There will be very few of them in it next year. It is just ridiculous.
We have practice at 6 a.m... I’m pissed.
This is... this is... yeah.”
It was raw, emotional, and clearly from a place of deep frustration. But it also opened the door to a wave of backlash. Fans took to social media with pointed responses, many questioning not just the players’ performance, but Tang’s leadership and accountability.
“You’re the one assembling the team, Jerome. Look in the mirror maybe?” one fan wrote.
Another added, “Funny thing is he will be fired at the end of the season, so he doesn’t deserve to wear their colors either.”
And perhaps most telling was a comment from a Kansas fan-yes, a rival-who said, “I enjoy when KSU is a solid, respectable team. Get this guy out of there.”
That last one might sting the most. Even rivals want Kansas State to be competitive again. That says something about the program’s potential-and how far it’s fallen.
Tang’s comments may have been intended to light a fire under his team, but in doing so, he’s also lit a fuse under the fanbase. The question now is whether there’s still time to salvage anything from this season-or if the countdown to a coaching change has already begun.
One thing’s for sure: the next few weeks in Manhattan are going to be tense. And with the Big 12 offering no easy nights, the pressure isn’t letting up anytime soon.