The Wildcat Spirit: Unveiling Kansas State University’s Legacy and Innovation

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head men’s basketball mentor Jerome Tang convened with the press on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 16) to discuss the forthcoming contest against No. 9/10 Kansas.

After a pair of consecutive home matches, K-State (7-9, 1-4 Big 12) initiates a 2-game away journey with an appearance at Allen Fieldhouse for the 302nd encounter in the Dillon Sunflower Showdown on Saturday. In addition to being the sixth-most contested series in Division I, it also stands as the second-longest ongoing rivalry as the institutions have clashed annually since 1907. The broadcast will commence at noon CT on CBS.

Access to the audio and a written transcript of Tang’s session are provided above.

K-State aims to end a 4-game losing streak following a 61-57 defeat to Texas Tech at home on Tuesday night. In spite of some offensive difficulties, the Wildcats managed to limit a high-scoring Red Raider team that entered the match ranked in the top 25 across 7 offensive categories.

Kansas (12-4, 3-2 Big 12) approaches Saturday identified as one of the premier defensive squads in the nation, as the Jayhawks are placed sixth in field goal percentage defense (37.0), 13th in defensive rebounds (28.8), 16th in scoring defense (62.8) and 23rd in blocks per game (5.2). Moreover, the Jayhawks maintain a robust offense averaging 76 points with a shooting percentage of 47.4 and a free throw accuracy of 73.1 percent.

Kansas boasts an 8-1 record this season at Allen Fieldhouse, with their sole loss occurring in the Big 12 opener against West Virginia, 62-61. The Jayhawks hold a 53-17 advantage over the Wildcats on their home court, which includes 27-1 in the Big 12 era. K-State has endured 18 consecutive losses within that arena, with their last victory registered in 2006.

After Wednesday’s contest at 25/24 Baylor (11-5, 3-2 Big 12), K-State will be back at home on Saturday, Jan. 25 to face off against West Virginia (12-4, 3-2 Big 12).

HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
On taking advantage of Kansas’s vulnerabilities…
“If I had any, I wouldn’t disclose them, as then they would be aware. But the consistent factor is that everyone they’ve faced has been exceptional, you know, and they haven’t suffered losses against any lesser teams, and they keep improving every time you see them play.”

On David [Castillo) and Mobi [Ikegwuruka] receiving playing minutes…
“Those players will see action; I am uncertain how much. Expect to see more of them. That atmosphere is a bit distinct. It’s vital for these young men to gain experience in it, ultimately benefiting the program as we progress. However, sometimes if you toss them into deep waters, it might become overwhelming, so time will tell. We’re going to employ whoever offers us the best opportunity and whoever is bringing enthusiasm. That has been our ongoing discussion. You’ve got to deliver energy and demonstrate a willingness to be gritty and resilient; that’s our only shot at winning.”

On practice serving as a trial for the game lineup…
“Partly based on their body language, you know, just some subtle cues that are significant to us. The players [are] going to participate. It has been this way for some time now. We just have to, I suppose, determine on game day. The ones who I believe will provide us the best chance at that moment will take the court.”

On his prior two visits to Lawrence…
“Well, Quis [Marquis Nowell] had been there previously. Ish [Ishmael Massoud] had prior experience there. Keyontae [Johnson] had competed in a significant environment before, hence they probably weren’t as shaken, you know, and we executed a better game up there. Last year, I was genuinely taken aback by how the atmosphere unsettled the players, and I initially left feeling frustrated because I thought it was an effort issue, but we got hit early, and I felt that the atmosphere had an impact on us. I hope this time, I can improve my approach in preparing them for the unique nature of that place on game day, as it clearly differs.”

On Dajuan Harris Jr. …
“(Houston’s) J’Wan Roberts. [Dajuan] Harris, individuals like that. They are like coaches on the court. These are culture champions, you know? He has immense trust in Him, you know. It’s as if nothing thrown at him is intimidating; it feels like he’s been there for ages. There is nothing anyone can present to him that he cannot handle, you know? I wish we could have a point guard, not just any point guard, but a leader on the floor for six years; that’s something special.”

On David Castillo’s shooting difficulties…
“They are quality chances; however, teams are still contesting them as they recognize he’s a proficient shooter and scorer. Therefore, the question lies in what he’s doing to receive those looks. I believe other teammates are drawing two defenders, leading him to be the open one, and I commend him for his confidence in taking those shots. We want him to keep doing that. We strive to assist him in moving beyond the frustration he’s feeling because he cares deeply, which causes him distress. Sometimes, players like him and others within the program, who exhibit intense dedication, tend to shoulder the blame individually. It’s never just one person’s fault. It’s never solely due to one play, you know, in games like this. So we want him and all players to recognize that we share the burden of responsibility for winning together and losing together as we move forward as a unit. We just had an excellent practice, and I anticipate us having another strong one tomorrow. We’ve had two commendable practices ahead of Texas Tech. Thus, I’m optimistic about our trajectory.”

On KU’s defense…
“They truly, truly defend you, quite similar to Houston, obviously their double team strategies, and their ball screen tactics vary slightly. But I think they allowed UCF to score only 11 points in the second half, and in another game, they held a team to around 40 points. It was an incredible feat. The addition of Shaquille Moore to their lineup brings another player who doesn’t require a hedge; he can navigate ball screens effectively, overcoming pin downs, and he brings competitive toughness, you know, which is advantageous. So it’s both the scheme they implement and the quality of the individuals within that scheme.”

On David Castillo and Mobi Ikegwuruka competing in a setting like KU…
“I want them to engage with enthusiasm. I want them to compete fearlessly and focus on making small contributions; they don’t need to hit home runs. And ideally, I desire this from all our players. I’m eager to observe how our players react to that atmosphere and how much we have grown. I want to evaluate how we, as a coaching staff, have facilitated their development a bit more to reach a point where we can secure victories.”

On an early game…
“Yes, we won’t conduct a shoot around in the morning. Instead, we’ll shoot the night prior. We want them to acclimate to the venue. I enjoy early games. Anytime there is an opportunity to play that 12 o’clock match on CBS, it’s an incredible chance. I’m enthusiastic about it.”

On fostering a team in the transfer portal era…
“I tuned in to Coach (Kelvin) Sampson’s discussion after our match, and one of the key points hemade is that they’ve never included a player in their top 10 transfer, you know. And that’s where I aspire to be. I want to reach that point. I understand that I can’t achieve it in a day, and it will require some time. But the objective is to have talented athletes return, eager to come back, don the uniform, and represent Kansas State, while falling in love with what we are accomplishing here and witnessing their growth daily. It’s our responsibility as a staff to cultivate our program into that kind of environment, and since our community embodies that spirit, and our university reflects it as well, that is the ambition, to elevate it to that standard. So, in response to your inquiry, they will compete because they have earned the opportunity, and their advancement will contribute towards our future success, but we are also focused on winning games, and that’s one of the reasons why they will participate.”

On maintaining motivation when facing losses…
“Wow, that’s a fantastic question. You know there’s a passage in the Bible that says that hardship fosters perseverance, perseverance develops character, and then character ultimately provides hope. The challenges we are experiencing showcase individuals with perseverance. They are unwavering. They persist. They continue to battle, and that tenacity, that perseverance, is shaping character within them, and that character, character is what you reveal when no one is observing, right? Thus, when no one is watching, when the lights are dim, they’re in the gym honing their skills. We just had what might be our best practice of the year because we have individuals with character. And through struggle, as they build perseverance, that is what ultimately instills in us hope that we will steer this ship in the right direction.”

On the guidance from seasoned players to novices…
“Well, I believe Dug (McDaniel) has been showcasing exceptional basketball skills, and he’s been outstanding in practice as well. It’s not just him, though. The message is that this journey isn’t simple, right? If it were simple, everyone would succeed. These players are in the top 1 percent of basketball athletes nationwide, right? Competing at this level is not for the faint of heart; it’s a grind, and you have to embrace the grind. Their daily dedication, the manner we adapt to various challenges presented, exemplifies who we are going to be and our intentions.”

On comparing high school recruitment to the transfer portal…
“Well, we have decisions to make. You know, with 15 scholarships available. Do we allocate our final five scholarships to recruit some high school players who recognize that they need development? Perhaps they need to increase their strength in the weight room or refine certain skills—are they prepared to do so? Right? I’m uncertain if you can secure victories with several high school recruits simultaneously. Hence, finding equilibrium is crucial. This year’s goal is to retain most of the returning roster, supplement with a few talented individuals from the portal who can elevate our performance, and ideally integrate the right high school players—like a David Castillo who might contribute immediately, while perhaps two or three understand the necessity of putting in work like Taj Manning, knowing their opportunity will arise eventually. That’s how we move forward. We are considering all possibilities. The regulations continue to evolve, right? So, we’re not entirely certain what kids will be capable of in the future. Everything is still fluid, but we are exploring every option to ensure our team composition allows for retaining most of our squad, similar to what Coach Klieman accomplished with football.”

On junior college recruitment…
“Does that imply a player can compete for two years at a junior college and then enroll as a freshman? If so, then yes, that certainly changes things. Does it mean it counts as just one year? I’m unaware; we’re rewriting the entire set of rules as there are discussions about limiting it to a five-year playing span. So, I’m not entirely certain about the situation. It heavily relies on the instructions we receive. Our compliance officer frequently informs me, ‘Coach, I wish I could offer clearer guidance, but we don’t have that information yet. Once we know, we’ll inform you.'”

On managing the roster…
“Well, Coach Marco (Borne) collaborates with the compliance team, and the rest of us engage in discussions—it’s more of a brainstorming session, you know? We convene, throw ideas around, and see what resonates. We draft various models in case scenarios twist in one direction or another. Some players occasionally find me a bit troublesome due to our lengthy three-hour meetings, where sometimes we end up achieving absolutely nothing, discussing matters that ultimately never materialize, you know?”

On his current team…
“I assure you, I’m genuinely enthusiastic about the development we’re achieving and our trajectory. This is a lengthy season. I keep reiterating, like we observe it’s just one game, and that’s simply what it is. Their mindset towards it has been commendable. I sincerely look forward to witnessing how this evolves moving forward. You know, in just a short time, we’ve made strides. We improved. We got better today against Texas Tech, allowing 85 points on average per game, while restricting them to 61. When you analyze some of our defensive mistakes that we previously discussed, which took a bit to rectify, I believe we could have potentially limited them to 50 points. We just need to convert some shots, and that comes with time.”

On halting scoreless streaks…
“Did you catch the last five minutes? You did, correct? Which shots would you have avoided? I mean, we unfortunately had those two turnovers. I wish we could have taken more attempts during those, but we executed the catch-and-shoot three perfectly from the corner, and it was a wide-open opportunity. You take that shot. It rattled in and out. Coleman (Hawkins) cuts to the basket. That was a pass opportunity; it was just a bit too quick, you know, a freshman under pressure, and he might have rushed it. You hope he could have made the catch, as it would have resulted in a layup. On the next play, David (Castillo) receives a fantastic back screen from Brendan (Hausen), since they anticipated the previous play, and he makes the catch—this close to completion, you know? I reckon there were a couple more catch-and-shoot chances that we would have taken, but none went in. Then, there was the bobbled offensive rebound, right? We managed to stop them, but the rebounded ball was mishandled, and then Williams reclaimed it for a second attempt, and he nailed it, you know? It’s just these minute plays. We’ve just got to keep pressing forward.”

On his appeal to the fans…
“Indeed, if I observe the game and conclude, ‘Man, that was our absolute best performance, right?’ and we end up losing, then I start to feel anxious. That truly frightens me. I convey to the fans that when I watch the game, and I recognize the significant improvements we can make and factors we can correct, right? That fuels my excitement. But looking ahead, I encourage our supporters, let’s collectively embody what we do at K-State. We hang tough and persevere. We continue to battle and support one another through the ups and downs, and more positive outcomes are on the horizon.”

On the rivalry concerning KU…
“Well, I’m not certain much needs to be articulated. I haven’t engaged in extensive discussions about it. One thing we have communicated is the intensity of the atmosphere we are entering, you know, but the players are aware of each other; they’ve experienced college basketball. They understand the significance this holds for our supporters, you know. And yes, it’s exhilarating.”

How to keep up with the ‘Cats: For comprehensive details on K-State men’s basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team’s social media platforms on X, Instagram and Facebook.