The Kansas State Wildcats were picked to finish last in the Big 12 this season, but first-year head coach Jerome Tang has turned things around for K-State far quicker than anyone could have expected.
And now, he’s looking to change the way the student body approaches their fiercest rivalry.
The No. 13 Wildcats defeated No. 2 Kansas, 83-82, in overtime on Tuesday at Bramlage Coliseum, and when the final whistle sounded, the students took the floor to celebrate the huge win for the program. But in the process, the fans shouted an “F– KU” chant as they’ve done for decades when playing Kansas.
Tang wanted to put a stop to that.
Here's the video that SportsCenter just aired. Jerome Tang with the literal mic drop quote: "From here on out, expect to win." @KCTV5 #EMAW https://t.co/v68CInhTrw pic.twitter.com/Hrc6kfVBau
— Jared Koller (@JaredKCTV5) January 18, 2023
Upon hearing the chant, Tang grabbed the mic and addressed the students, urging them to celebrate the win and cheer *for* K-State rather than disparage Kansas. He said:
“This is not about who we just beat. This is about us winning! K-S-U! … It is amazing what you can accomplish when you do it out of motive of love and joy and passion. Now, I told y’all we’ll get you one court storming. From here on out, expect to win.”
We’ll have to see if that speech continues to resonate with the fans in future Sunflower Showdown meetings. But in the meantime, college basketball fans loved the message.