Kansas State Basketball Spiraling as Jerome Tang’s Frustrations Boil Over
MANHATTAN - The mood around Kansas State basketball has gone from concern to crisis, and it’s playing out in real time on the court, in the press room, and now, across social media.
After a 91-62 blowout loss at home to Cincinnati - the Wildcats’ fifth straight defeat and their 10th in 11 Big 12 games - the frustration hit a boiling point. Head coach Jerome Tang didn’t hold back postgame, delivering a scathing assessment of his team’s effort and pride. Tang didn’t just question their performance - he questioned whether they even deserved to wear the Kansas State uniform.
“This was embarrassing,” Tang said. “These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform, and there will be very few of them in it next year.
I'm embarrassed for the university, I'm embarrassed for our fans, and our student section. It's just ridiculous.”
That quote - and the emotion behind it - has gone viral. It’s not just local fans reacting anymore.
National media outlets have picked up the story, and Tang’s comments have been the subject of heated debate on shows like SportsCenter and Pardon the Interruption. The spotlight is now squarely on Manhattan, Kansas, and it’s not a flattering one.
A Fanbase in Open Protest
During the Cincinnati game, several students in the K-State student section wore brown paper bags over their heads - a symbolic protest that’s made the rounds on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). One bag even had “$18.675 million” scrawled across the front - a nod to Tang’s reported buyout if he’s let go before April 30. The message was clear: fans are fed up, and some are calling for major changes.
One student told reporters the bags weren’t just about the losses - they were about accountability. They said they were tired of the excuses and wanted someone to take ownership for the program’s downward spiral.
Tang’s Comments Drawing National Scrutiny
Tang’s public frustration isn’t new, but it’s starting to overshadow the basketball itself. Four of Kansas State’s last five games have ended not just in defeat, but in controversy or criticism from the head coach.
- After a 24-point loss to in-state rival Kansas - a game where the Wildcats were within four points with under eight minutes left - Tang questioned his team’s competitiveness.
- Following a road loss at West Virginia, he took aim at the NCAA over what he called inconsistent eligibility rules, suggesting that off-court issues were hampering his team’s ability to compete.
- After a 34-point home loss to Iowa State, Tang said he wasn’t disappointed in his players and praised their effort - a stark contrast to his tone after the Cincinnati game. That loss, however, reportedly came amid a serious personal issue involving player Mobi Ikegwuruka, unrelated to any legal matters.
- Kansas State’s most recent road game, an 18-point collapse at TCU, came and went without a major postgame headline - a rare quiet night in what’s become a season full of noise.
But the Cincinnati loss - and Tang’s fiery comments afterward - reignited the conversation. Not just about the team’s performance, but about Tang’s future.
Hot Seat Heating Up
Multiple national outlets have now listed Tang among the coaches on the proverbial hot seat. According to reports, Kansas State would owe Tang nearly $19 million if they chose to part ways before the end of April. That’s a steep number, but one that some fans are now openly referencing - literally - in the stands.
The Athletic cited industry sources saying the university is at least considering the possibility. On3 echoed similar sentiments.
The message? Tang’s job security is no longer a given.
And then there’s the off-court turbulence. A graduate assistant on the Kansas State staff was arrested on a domestic battery charge on Feb. 9 and has since been suspended indefinitely. It’s yet another distraction in a season that’s already teetering on the edge.
A Brutal Road Ahead
The timing couldn’t be worse. Kansas State now heads to No.
3 Houston - one of the toughest environments in college basketball - for a Saturday afternoon matchup. The Wildcats haven’t just been losing; they’ve been getting blown out.
And now they face a top-three team on the road, with the pressure mounting and morale at an all-time low.
The Big 12 is a gauntlet, no doubt. But what’s troubling for Kansas State isn’t just the record - it’s the lack of fight.
National analysts have pointed out that it’s one thing to lose in this conference. It’s another to show “zero resistance,” especially on your home floor.
That’s the concern now. Not just whether the Wildcats can turn it around, but whether the players - and the coach - still believe they can.
The next few weeks will be telling. For Tang.
For the program. And for a fanbase that’s clearly had enough.