With Kansas State's disastrous 1-8 Big 12 start, many fans and outsiders are pointing the finger to pretty much everyone within the program.
So you'd have to imagine Wildcats athletic director Gene Taylor is among that crowd. Many are scrutinizing the organization for coach Jerome Tang's lack of success over the past few seasons. And now, the critiques have hit their peak as Kansas State has its worst conference stretch in recent memory, in a season where the team was anticipated to be a surefire Tournament contender.
Taylor expressed his frustration with the team's direction thus far.
"It’s hard to see, to be honest with you," Taylor said in an interview with 12 News Sports. "I know how hard those coaches are working to try to figure it out and how hard those players are too. Obviously, they’re facing some challenges with some injuries and stuff. I get the frustrations, and I can promise there’s nobody more frustrated with what’s going on than the folks in the basketball facility right now."
Regardless, he asks fans for their patience and support despite the underwhelming results.
"I just let them know that we’re here and that we understand that it’s not easy," Taylor said. "We understand the fans' frustration, and we get it. They just need to know that if they need to vent or talk, that’s what we’re here for. But I’m not a basketball coach, and they’re with [the players] every day. I trust that they’ll try to find a way to get them back on the right track."
Coach Tang shared Taylor's optimism, expressing pride in his players amid the 34-point loss to Iowa State on Sunday.
"I'm not disappointed at all," Tang said in his Iowa State postgame interview. "I'm with these dudes every single day; I know everything they're going through, and you all don't. I was proud of our guys, especially in the second half."
But at this point in the year, fans are probably tuned out to the positive news and want to see more initiative and accountability. The Wildcats' floor was the postseason, but now that looks like a distant dream after their eighth conference defeat. The injury bug certainly doesn't help, as Khamari McGriff, Abdi Bashir Jr., and Elias Rapieque are still not present on the court.
Thankfully, there's still time left in the season to make something happen. Kansas State heads to TCU (13-9, 3-6 in Big 12) on Saturday afternoon.