Is a Former Elite Eight Men’s Basketball Coach on the Hot Seat?
The Kansas State Wildcats season has spiraled into something far more alarming than a simple slump, and the national conversation has shifted from mild concern to outright scrutiny. The Wildcats were humiliated in a 30-point home loss to a mediocre Cincinnati Bearcats team, which actually had one of the better off-seasons in the Big 12, and it was a defeat that triggered a wave of public frustration from head coach Jerome Tang. The blowout was not just another mark in the loss column. It was a moment that crystallized how far the program has fallen since its Elite Eight run with Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell. Kansas State sits at one win in Big 12 play, and the fanbase has reached a breaking point. Students wore paper bags over their heads during the loss, a symbolic protest that reflected the growing sentiment that Tang’s tenure is slipping out of control. Reports across major outlets have highlighted the growing anger and disappointment surrounding the program, with some fans openly calling for a coaching change.
The most striking part of this collapse is how little resistance Kansas State has shown. Cincinnati walked into Bramlage Coliseum and dominated from start to finish, winning 91-62. Tang did not hold back afterward. He called the performance embarrassing and said his players did not deserve to wear the uniform. That level of public criticism is rare for Tang, who has historically been measured in his postgame comments. Multiple outlets reported that this was the angriest he has sounded in years, and the tone of his remarks made it clear that he believes his team has failed to meet even the most basic competitive standard. Kansas State has now lost 10 of its last 11 games, and the trajectory suggests deeper issues than simple execution or effort.
The on‑court problems are glaring. Outside of star guard PJ Haggerty, who continues to produce at a high level, Kansas State is getting almost nothing from the rest of its rotation. Haggerty has been the lone consistent scorer, the only player capable of generating offense when possessions break down. The supporting cast has been ineffective, inconsistent, and at times invisible. The absence of star transfer Abdi Bashir has only magnified those issues. Bashir, sidelined with an injury, was expected to be a major scoring option and a stabilizing force on the wing. Without him, the Wildcats lack a secondary creator, a reliable shooter, and a physical presence who can relieve pressure from Haggerty. His absence has left the offense disjointed and predictable, and opponents have taken full advantage. Tang himself has acknowledged that the team is not responding, and the lack of production around Haggerty has become one of the defining flaws of the season.
All of this has fueled the question that once seemed unthinkable. Is Jerome Tang officially on the hot seat? The program’s decline is no longer subtle. Kansas State has regressed every season since its Elite Eight run, and this year is shaping up to be the worst of Tang’s tenure. The Wildcats are not just losing. They are losing by wide margins, often looking unprepared and overwhelmed. The fanbase has grown restless, the national media has taken notice, and Tang’s own words have added urgency to the conversation. Kansas State’s administration faces a difficult decision. Tang’s buyout is significant, but the frustration surrounding the program is reaching a point where financial considerations may no longer outweigh competitive reality. If the Wildcats continue on this path, the pressure will only intensify. For now, the question lingers over Manhattan. A coach who once led Kansas State to national relevance is now fighting to keep the program from collapsing entirely.
