Kansas State Basketball Struggles Baffle Coach Jerome Tang

Wildcats suffer blowout loss to Iowa State, leaving head coach searching for answers

Feb. 3, 2026 at 3:39am

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Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang was at a loss to explain his team's 95-61 blowout loss to Iowa State. The Wildcats were tied late in the game before collapsing down the stretch, leaving Tang puzzled about how the season has gone so poorly for his squad.

Why it matters

Kansas State was expected to be a contender in the Big 12 this season, but the team has struggled mightily, raising questions about Tang's ability to get the most out of his players and the program's direction moving forward.

The details

In the loss to Iowa State, the Wildcats were tied with the clock winding down before unraveling and suffering a lopsided defeat. Tang acknowledged he didn't have a good explanation for how his team let the game, and the season, get away from them in such dramatic fashion.

  • The loss to Iowa State occurred on February 3, 2026.

The players

Jerome Tang

The head coach of the Kansas State basketball team, who is in his second season leading the program.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like we needed a loss.”

— Jerome Tang, Head Coach

The takeaway

Tang and Kansas State will need to quickly regroup and find answers if they hope to salvage what has so far been a disappointing season for a team that had high expectations coming into the year.