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Kansas State Coach Rips Team After Blowout Loss
Jerome Tang calls out players' effort following 91-62 defeat to Cincinnati
Feb. 12, 2026 at 2:15am
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Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang did not mince words after his team's blowout 91-62 loss to Cincinnati, saying the players "did not deserve to wear this uniform" and that there will be "very few" of them on the team next year. The Wildcats have struggled mightily this season, going just 10-14 and facing an uphill battle to make the NCAA Tournament.
Why it matters
Kansas State has had a disappointing season after making the Elite Eight in Tang's first year as head coach. The team's poor performance and Tang's scathing comments highlight the growing frustration among the fanbase, who were seen wearing paper bags on their heads during the game.
The details
The Wildcats trailed 53-31 at halftime and were outscored by seven in the second half of the blowout loss. P.J. Haggerty was the only Kansas State player to score in double digits, with 24 points. Following the game, Tang ripped into his team, saying they "did not deserve to wear this uniform" and that there will be "very few" of them on the team next year.
- Kansas State has gone just 45-46 over the past three seasons since making the Elite Eight in Tang's first year.
- The Wildcats were knocked out of the NIT First Round in 2024, failed to make the NCAA Tournament in 2025, and look poised to miss it again in 2026.
The players
Jerome Tang
The head coach of the Kansas State Wildcats basketball team, who is in his fourth season with the program.
P.J. Haggerty
The star guard for the Kansas State Wildcats, who scored a team-high 24 points in the loss to Cincinnati.
What they’re saying
“This was embarrassing. These dudes did not deserve to wear this uniform. There will be very few in it next year. I'm embarrassed for the university, I'm embarrassed for our fans, our student section. We have practice at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning. We will get this thing right. I have no answers and no words.”
— Jerome Tang, Head Coach, Kansas State Wildcats
“I'd wear a paper bag too, if I was them.”
— Jerome Tang, Head Coach, Kansas State Wildcats
What’s next
The Wildcats still have tough matchups against No. 3 Houston, No. 16 Texas Tech, and No. 9 Kansas looming over their final seven regular season games. If Tang is afforded another season in Manhattan, it would surely be make or break for the former National Championship winning assistant coach.
The takeaway
Tang's scathing comments highlight the growing frustration among the Kansas State fanbase, who have seen the team struggle mightily since Tang's successful first season. The Wildcats' inability to build on that initial success has put the coach's future in jeopardy, as the program seeks to regain its footing in the highly competitive Big 12 Conference.
