Kansas State’s conference play couldn’t have started on a rougher note. At 0-5 in the Big 12, the Wildcats are staring down their worst league start since 1997-a stretch that predates the current Big 12 lineup as we know it.
The latest stumble came against Oklahoma State, a game that slipped away in the final seconds thanks to a trio of clutch free throws by the Cowboys. But the real story wasn’t just the ending-it was how Kansas State got there: a mix of careless turnovers, untimely fouls, and a general lack of composure that’s become all too familiar this season.
There’s no sugarcoating it-this team is in trouble. But head coach Jerome Tang is still preaching patience and pointing to small signs of progress.
“We're playing with energy, effort, and enthusiasm, and we're really sharing the ball,” Tang said after the loss. “There’s been some great ball movement out there… we just have to cut down on our turnovers.
We're rebounding better. We're more physical.”
Tang’s not wrong. The rebounding numbers have improved, and the team is showing flashes of cohesion.
But at this point in the season, moral victories aren’t going to cut it. Kansas State sits at the bottom of the Big 12 standings, and the NCAA Tournament feels like a distant dream rather than a realistic goal.
The margin for error is gone-and so is much of the optimism that surrounded this group in the preseason.
One of the biggest issues? The frontcourt-or lack thereof.
The Wildcats are undersized up front, and it’s showing. Khamari McGriff has been forced to carry the load defensively in the paint, and that constant pressure is leading to foul trouble.
Without any real depth or size behind him, Kansas State is getting pushed around inside, which only compounds their problems on both ends of the floor.
That thin front line has also put more pressure on the backcourt to carry the scoring load, and lately, that group hasn’t delivered. PJ Haggerty, who started the season on a tear, has cooled off significantly.
Whether it’s slow starts or costly turnovers, the team’s primary scorer hasn’t been able to consistently shoulder the offensive burden. Abdi Bashir Jr., once viewed as the team’s go-to perimeter threat, has seen his production take a nosedive.
And while Nate Johnson continues to bring it on defense, his offensive inconsistency makes it tough for the Wildcats to find rhythm or balance.
Then there’s David Castillo. The freshman guard was a bright spot early in the season, but his offensive output has all but vanished in Big 12 play. He’s hit just six field goals over the last four games-a steep drop for a player who was expected to be a reliable second option and a spark off the bench.
Right now, Kansas State looks like a team searching for answers-on offense, on defense, and in the locker room. They’ve got talent, but the pieces aren’t fitting together. Whether it’s chemistry, execution, or simply growing pains, the Wildcats are stuck in a rut, and the clock is ticking.
Their next shot at breaking the slump comes Tuesday night against Utah. It's not just another game-it's a chance to show they still have fight left, that the season isn’t slipping away completely.
Because if Kansas State wants to claw its way back into relevance, it has to start somewhere. And it has to start now.