In a surprising twist during Kansas State’s recent victory over Baylor, the ESPN2 broadcast team made waves by suggesting that nearly all of K-State's basketball roster had entered the transfer portal following the dismissal of head coach Jerome Tang. This claim quickly spread across social media, sparking concern among the Wildcat faithful.
However, let's set the record straight-those comments were off the mark. Thanks to a recent NCAA rule change, student-athletes can't jump into the transfer portal immediately after a coaching change.
The NCAA now mandates a 15-day transfer window that kicks off the day after the championship game in men’s basketball. If there's a coaching change, players can only access the portal once this initial window closes.
Here’s the scoop on the rule: When a head coaching change happens, a 15-day window opens five days after the new coach is hired or publicly announced. If no new coach is announced within 30 days of the previous coach's departure-and this 31st day falls after the championship game-a 15-day window will then open.
In plain terms, if Tang had been let go in May, K-State players would have had a special transfer window. But in February, no such luck. The Wildcats, like all other teams, must wait until early April to make any portal decisions.
Under the old system, K-State players could have entered the portal early, allowing communication with other coaches as the season wrapped up. That’s no longer an option.
Even interim head coach Matthew Driscoll seemed caught off guard by the rule change, needing a team spokesperson to correct his statement about the portal being open during a postgame news conference.
Despite the off-court drama, K-State delivered a spirited performance in their first game without Tang. PJ Haggerty and Nate Johnson led the charge, scoring 34 and 33 points respectively, snapping a six-game losing streak.
The Wildcats showed resilience on the court, proving that even amidst uncertainty, they can rise to the occasion.