New Kansas State Coach Faces Roster Rebuild

Alexander must navigate transfer portal to build competitive team

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:04am

Kansas State's new men's basketball coach Casey Alexander is set to face his first major challenge as he attempts to rebuild the Wildcats' roster through the transfer portal ahead of the upcoming season.

Why it matters

Alexander was hired in March to turn around a Kansas State program that has struggled in recent years. His ability to quickly assemble a competitive roster through the transfer portal will be crucial to his early success and setting the tone for the future of the program.

The details

Alexander, who previously served as head coach at Lipscomb University, must find a way to fill key roster spots left vacant by players who have entered the transfer portal since the end of last season. The Wildcats lost several starters and rotation players, leaving Alexander with significant holes to fill as he looks to build a competitive team for the 2026-27 campaign.

  • The transfer portal opens in the coming weeks, giving Alexander a limited window to recruit and secure commitments from impact players.

The players

Casey Alexander

The new head coach of the Kansas State men's basketball team, hired in March 2026 to turn around the struggling program.

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What’s next

Alexander and his staff will be closely monitoring the transfer portal in the coming weeks, looking to add key pieces that can contribute immediately and help establish a new culture within the Kansas State program.

The takeaway

Alexander's ability to quickly rebuild the Kansas State roster through the transfer portal will be a crucial early test of his coaching abilities and set the tone for the future direction of the Wildcats' men's basketball program.