Tag: Jerome Tang

Kansas State joins Texas to represent Big 12 in the Sweet 16

Jerome Tang scoffed at Kentucky’s “tradition,” after K-State joined Texas in the Sweet 16.

Kansas State followed Texas to the Sweet 16 on Sunday with a win over the Kentucky Wildcats, 75-69. K-State head coach Jerome Tang had interesting comments about Kentucky after the huge win.

Tang said the following about his team’s win over Kentucky.

Well you know, we have a program that’s rich in tradition also. You know, all those old dudes that played for Kentucky, they ain’t coming back. Tradition does not help you if you don’t go out there and play with some dudes. And we had more dudes than they did today.

Few college basketball fans, if any, consider Kansas State anywhere near a blue blood program. Even so, the point Tang makes resonates with fans of underachieving programs. You’re only as good as your current team and coach. Kentucky coach John Calipari might be the better recruiter, but it’s evident Tang is the better talent optimizer.

Texas and Kansas State still stand as potential Final Four representatives for the Big 12 Conference.

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Kansas State used a football formation to perfection for a key inbound pass in win over Kentucky

Kansas State ran a very football-like inbound pass against Kentucky. It was awesome.

While trying to drain the clock during its 2023 men’s NCAA tournament clash with Kentucky, Kansas State ran what looked to almost be a football formation on a key inbound pass.

Leading 69-64 with about 23 seconds to go, Kansas State knew that Kentucky would try to come away with the quick steal and wanted to get in position to draw the foul.

Rather than run a traditional inbound play, Kansas State spread four players out wide in a shotgun formation next to the inbound passer. It almost looked like they were spread out in a four verticals football formation with the inbound passer acting as the quarterback.

As the whistle blew, the four K-State players ran in vertical directions and one caught the ball without problem as he quickly got fouled by a Kentucky player.

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When you’re trying to punch your ticket to the Sweet 16, nifty formations like this on something as routine as an inbound pass can make a world of difference.

After the game, Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang said the inbound play was called the “Mahomes” in honor of, you guessed it, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, per KSHB 41 sports producer Nick Jacobs.

Basketball coaches across the country will be trying this inbound play when they return to the hardwood.

The genius of the play was getting the two players out in front to block for the Kansas State player who caught the inbound pass. It created some hesitation on Kentucky’s part to majorly press and gave Kansas State the situation it wanted to be in that late in the game.

Kansas State has had a remarkable tournament so far, and creative plays like this could keep them alive for much longer.

Who could replace Mark Adams at Texas Tech? 10 names to consider

With the news that Mark Adams is out at Texas Tech, we put together a list of 10 names to consider as the next Red Raiders head coach.

On Wednesday night the Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball head coaching job became vacant following the announcement that Mark Adams would resign.

This came off the heels of Adams’ suspension for racially insensitive comments to the team. Now with Adams stepping aside, this will put Tech back in the head coaching search. Adams was named head coach after Chris Beard left for the Texas Longhorns. Less than two years later, both teams could make huge changes.

Rodney Terry has done an outstanding job since being named interim head coach but John Calipari has been linked to the job. It remains to be seen how that will all play out. As far as Tech is concerned they can begin their search for the next head coach.

College Sports Wire has a list of potential candidates.

PREVIEW: No. 10 Texas at No. 7 Kansas State

Texas will look to play much better than in its 116-103 loss to K-State in Austin.

Conference title ramifications are on the line in Manhattan, Kansas. The Texas Longhorns (7-2) and Kansas State Wildcats (6-3) enter the second half of the Big 12 title race.

A win for Kansas State would put the Wildcats in a tie with Texas for first place. Should the Longhorns emerge victorious, Rodney Terry’s team would distance itself from the field and maintain its spot atop the standings.

K-State suffered its third conference loss Tuesday night against Kansas, 90-78. Jerome Tang’s team became the victim of his own fast pace as the Jayhawks scored at will.

Texas had similar success offensively when they met Saturday’s foe in Austin earlier this year. The Longhorns defense did not fare as well in the 116-103 defeat.

Here’s a look at how the two teams stack up heading into the game.

Jerome Tang grabbed the mic and stopped a NSFW chant with an awesome speech after K-State’s upset win

How can’t you love sports?

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.

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.

Texas Basketball: Early candidates to replace Chris Beard

Where does Texas go next?

Texas officially parted ways with men’s basketball coach Chris Beard on Thursday following his arrest on assault charges early in December. Continue reading “Texas Basketball: Early candidates to replace Chris Beard”