K-State Rapid Fire: Angry Jerome Tang, Bill Self Beef, Big 12 Tourney Predictions
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Let’s do some rapid-fire today. I have a lot to say after the debacle we witnessed this week in Lawrence.
Here we GO!
- K-State lost to Kansas 90-68 on Tuesday night, effectively ending any hopes of an NCAA tournament bid. To get in, K-State will likely have to win the Big 12 tournament, and that isn’t likely to happen.
- I listened to Jerome Tang’s post-game press conference. He was mad. It was the first time I’d heard him angry at an outcome. I liked that he was mad. It was long overdue.
- He wasn’t only mad at the outcome; he was also mad at his players’ effort, or lack thereof. He mentioned “effort” at least six times in the press conference, at one point saying, “They played harder than us.” Ouch.
- Turnovers were an issue again for the Wildcats. They had 11 in the game, but it seemed like they had 30. Very disappointing.
- Bill Self accused Jerome Tang of doing a “fly-by” handshake after the game. While this wasn’t caught on video, it did appear that Tang went through the entire line and shook everyone’s hand. Tang was probably upset and in a hurry to get to the locker room. I wouldn’t read anything else into it.
- A video surfaced of Self doing a “fly-by” handshake after the game in Manhattan, so I’m not sure what his beef is. I watched the video of Self’s comments, and he didn’t seem mad or upset but did make a point to mention it. He should probably not be so petty and not take it personally
- There are still rumors that Jerome Tang will go coach elsewhere after this season. I don’t know if he will find a good enough job offer if his team misses out on the NCAA tournament. He might have an opportunity at a smaller school or a lesser conference, but I’m not sure that’s where he wants to be. I think he’ll be back next season.
- As for K-State’s roster next season, I think it is going to look drastically different. The three freshmen, Dai Dai Ames, RJ Jones, and Macaleab Rich, will all likely be back, along with sophomore Jerrell Colbert, Arthur Kaluma, and Cam Carter, but I’m not sure about the rest of the roster. And K-State only has one commit so far coming in next season, David Castillo.
- It is curious that Tang has secured only one commit for next season thus far. Is this because he is planning on leaving? K-State should have a few scholarships available, so I find this odd.
- The K-State women’s team secured the number three seed in the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament. They play against the sixth seed at 8:00 PM on Saturday, likely West Virginia. The Wildcats beat the Mountaineers in overtime on February 21st.
- The Lady Wildcats have been, shall I say, unimpressive of late, losing two of their last three games and five of their last nine. They will likely have to beat two-seed Texas and then one-seed Oklahoma to win the tournament. They split with both teams during the regular season, winning against both teams before Ayoka Lee’s injury and losing to both when Lee was out. Lee is expected to play in the tournament.
Predictions for the men’s and women’s tournaments: Houston will win the men’s, and Texas will win the women’s. I hope I’m wrong!
