Kansas State men’s basketball coach Jerome Tang unleashed a scathing postgame tirade on his players following the Wildcats’ lopsided 91-62 home defeat to Cincinnati on Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.
The blowout marked Kansas State’s fifth straight loss overall, third consecutive home defeat by 24 or more points, and dropped their record to 10-14 (1-10 in Big 12 play).
Cincinnati dominated from the start, leading 53-31 at halftime and draining 16 three-pointers—the second-most ever allowed by a K-State opponent. Defensive lapses were glaring, including poor block-outs that led to easy second-chance opportunities, such as a rebound and dunk off a missed free throw.
Adding to the humiliation, some fans—including about 20 students—wore brown paper bags over their heads, some with messages calling for the buyout of Tang’s roughly $18.6 million contract.
In a brief, tense press conference where he limited questions, Tang did not hold back his frustration and embarrassment.
“This was embarrassing,” Tang said, via USA TODAY. “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, our student section. It is just ridiculous.”
He continued, emphasizing pride and commitment.
“These dudes have to have some pride, man. It means something to wear a K-State uniform. It means something to put on this purple, man. Our university’s all about that, and it’s why I love this place, man. They don’t love this place, so they don’t deserve to be here,” he said.
Tang added that practice was scheduled for 6 a.m. on Thursday and declared, “We will get this thing right, but right now, I’m, like, pissed.”
When addressing the fans’ paper bags and booing during the game (including at a first-half timeout when down by 22), he remarked, “I’d wear a paper bag, too, if I was them.”
The sharp criticism comes amid a steep decline for the program. After a promising start under Tang—including an NCAA Tournament appearance and Elite Eight run in his first season—the Wildcats have struggled in recent years, missing the tournament the last two seasons and facing another likely absence this year.
