It's been nearly a month since Kansas State hired Casey Alexander as its head coach.
ESPN is the latest media outlet to weigh in on the acquisition, lauding Alexander as the aide to a program rebounding from a miserable season under Jerome Tang.
"At the time of his firing, the Wildcats had won just one game in Big 12 play this season," the article wrote. "Tang led Kansas State to the Elite Eight in his first season, winning 26 games - the program's most since Bruce Weber's first season in 2013. The Wildcats couldn't continue the momentum of Tang's first season, though, struggling in Big 12 play and missing the NCAA tournament in Year 2 and then finishing 16-17 last season. Tang is disputing the decision."
The Wildcats were projected to be a Tournament team at minimum and, at best, one of the biggest risers in the Big 12. The results were far from that. In fact, they were the worst team in the conference aside from Utah, and the season deteriorated with each embarrassing loss.
It was another devastating year to follow a string of underwhelming seasons. Tang was removed for the lackluster conference play, paired with his viral rant publicly ripping his active roster. Athletic director Gene Taylor brought in Alexander for his success at Belmont. He's regularly led the team to conference dominance while building a strong player development culture.
"Alexander went 166-60 in seven seasons at Belmont, his alma mater, and won three regular-season championships," the article wrote. "He also helped transition the program from the Ohio Valley Conference to the Missouri Valley Conference. He has won at least 20 games in 10 consecutive seasons."
In his welcome to Kansas State, Alexander said that Kansas State has all the resources and pieces for success. He's already hit the ground running, bringing in his former assistants and player commits.
"I’ve learned that we’re not missing anything, and that’s a remarkable place to be," Alexander said in his introduction radio interview. "Every place is gonna have its strengths and weaknesses; K-State is no different. But I love the people that I’ve met. I feel so strong about the leadership, the connectivity, and the alignment, and those are all really important things when you’re a basketball coach trying to make something great."
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!