© Scott Sewell-Imagn Images
The Kansas State Wildcats were beaten soundly by rival Iowa State in Big 12 basketball on Sunday. The team looked out of sorts from the opening tip.
Head coach Jerome Tang cryptically confirmed a locker room distraction during a bizarre postgame media session. It came as the heat on his coaching seat was cranked to 100.
The Wildcats have been bad this season. At 10-12, they look destined for a second straight losing campaign.
Tang is catching most of the heat. He has underdelivered with three consecutive NCAA Tournament misses following a run to the Elite Eight in his debut.
With the program headed in a downward trajectory, calls for his job are loud.
What does Kansas State owe its basketball coach?
Tang signed an extension after his first season at the helm. His current contract pays close to $4 million per year and runs through 2030.
His deal comes with a buyout that sits at $18.675 million.
Investment hasn’t been the issue for Tang. He has been provided an NIL plan that’s competitive with others in the league.
Swings and misses on pricy transfers have been a problem over the last few seasons. This year appears no different.
The Wildcats’ transfer class was ranked fourth nationally by 247 Sports recruiting service. It was headlined by five-star guard PJ Haggerty. It, unfortunately, has not produced.
Kansas State ranks 14th in the Big 12 in scoring defense. It is dead last in scoring differential in conference play, losing by an average of 12 points. The results have been poor.
Frustrations were evident in the latest setback.
The Wildcats were crushed by Iowa State.
The Cyclones started the game on a 24-8 run. The advantage would grow to as many as 32 in the first half. Kansas State eventually lost the basketball game, 95-61.
The 34-point shellacking was the worst of the season. Poor body language was seen by players as confidence in the offense dwindled.
it’s okay king we feel you – sincerely, kstate students pic.twitter.com/HuB9clSFTy
— Paige Mueller (@paigemue07) February 1, 2026
Andrej Kostic was visibly peeved by teammates’ inability to get him open looks. It signaled potential locker room friction, which Jerome Tang confirmed after the fact.
“I’m not disappointed at all,” Tang said in the postgame presser. “I’m with these dudes every single day. I know everything that they’re going through, and y’all don’t…
“I don’t want to expand upon it. Some of it, I can’t.”
When given a chance to clarify the “not disappointed” quote to start the show, this is what Jerome Tang had to say: pic.twitter.com/o1F6KqxK1i
— Mason Voth (@TheRealMasonV) February 1, 2026
He refused to open up on the issues haunting the team. Most viewed it as an excuse to avoid taking accountability.
If the season continues to be a disappointment, Kansas State will decide if firing Jerome Tang is worth the $18 million cost. The coach has lost the fanbase. It appears the players aren’t far behind.