Kansas State Tries to Reset After Blowout Loss with a Bold Message from Coach Jerome Tang
After a string of lopsided losses and growing frustration from fans, Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang is making it clear: the standards for effort and pride in the program aren’t negotiable.
Following a 91-62 home loss to Cincinnati - the Wildcats’ third straight home defeat by 24 or more points - Tang didn’t hold back. His postgame comments weren’t just fiery, they were a direct challenge to his team’s identity.
“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 wasn’t just talk. Tang backed it up with action.
In the days after the loss, Kansas State players were put through a pair of 6 a.m. practices. And not just any early morning sessions - these included roughly 70 trips up and down the stairs at Bramlage Coliseum.
That’s the kind of conditioning that sends a message: if you’re going to wear this jersey, you’re going to earn it.
And speaking of jerseys - when Kansas State took the floor against No. 3 Houston on Saturday, the names on the back of their uniforms were gone. A deliberate move by Tang, driving home a classic but powerful message: it’s about the name on the front, not the back.
For a team sitting at 10-14 overall and just 1-10 in Big 12 play, the gesture wasn’t just symbolic - it was a reset. Tang is trying to recenter his group around team pride, accountability, and effort. And for at least a few minutes in Houston, it looked like something clicked.
The Wildcats came out with a noticeable edge, jumping out to a 15-6 lead at the under-12 timeout in the first half. It wasn’t just the score - it was the energy.
Loose balls were contested. Rotations were sharper.
There was a sense of urgency that had been missing for weeks.
Of course, playing with pride against a top-three team like Houston is one thing - sustaining that level of intensity is another. But for a program that’s been under pressure, both internally and externally, the early fight against the Cougars was a step in the right direction.
Tang’s seat has gotten hotter as the losses have piled up. Students have shown up with paper bags over their heads.
Chants calling for his job have echoed through timeouts. But the head coach isn’t backing down.
If anything, he’s doubling down on what he believes Kansas State basketball should represent.
The uniforms may be missing names, but the message couldn’t be clearer: if you want to represent this program, you’ve got to show up with effort, pride, and purpose - every time you step on the floor.