Something’s gone sideways in Manhattan - and not in the way Kansas State fans were hoping.
The Wildcats, under head coach Jerome Tang, are spiraling. They’ve dropped to 10-11 overall and a brutal 1-7 in Big 12 play.
And while college basketball seasons can be long and winding, this one feels like it’s veering off the rails. The latest low point?
A 30-point home deficit to No. 8 Iowa State that had fans leaving early and one K-State legend speaking out.
Jacob Pullen - yes, that Jacob Pullen, the program’s all-time leading scorer and a name that still echoes through Bramlage Coliseum - didn’t hold back. Midway through the blowout, he dropped a one-liner on social media that said everything without saying much at all:
“It’s hard to watch honestly.”
When a guy like Pullen, who poured his heart into that jersey, is publicly calling out the state of the program, it’s not just noise - it’s a siren. And it’s hard to argue with him. This team looks lost.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about one bad night. Kansas State has been trending in the wrong direction for weeks.
Injuries have piled up - Abdi Bashir, their top perimeter threat, is nursing a foot issue. Forwards Mobi Ikegwuruka and Elias Rapieque are unavailable.
Starting center Khamari McGriff is out too. But even before the injury bug hit, there were signs that something wasn’t clicking.
And here’s where it gets even more complicated: this roster wasn’t built on a shoestring budget. According to Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68, K-State was reportedly among the top five in NIL spending just last season. That kind of investment raises expectations - and right now, the returns aren’t close to matching the price tag.
So where does that leave things? Tang, now in his fourth season at the helm, has delivered some memorable highs during his tenure.
But this year’s version of the Wildcats feels disjointed, underprepared, and - perhaps most concerning - lacking fight. Against Iowa State, they were outplayed from the opening tip.
The Cyclones didn’t just beat them; they overwhelmed them.
And for those hoping a coaching change might reset the trajectory, there’s a financial hurdle: Tang’s buyout reportedly sits at $18.7 million. That’s not a number you brush aside lightly, especially in the current college athletics landscape.
Kansas State fans are passionate, loyal, and used to a certain level of grit from their team. Right now, that grit is missing.
Injuries are part of the story, yes. But so is chemistry, accountability, and effort - and those things have been in short supply.
There’s time left in the season, but it’s slipping fast. And if the Wildcats don’t find a spark soon, this year could go down as one of the more disappointing campaigns in recent memory - not just for the losses, but for how lifeless it’s looked along the way.