Kansas State coach Jerome Tang is typically very cheery, optimistic, and supportive of his players.
But when you lose the way they lost to Cincinnati on Wednesday night, it's bound to ruffle some feathers. And that's exactly what it did for Tang. The Wildcats were completely embarrassed at home, losing their 10th conference matchup of the season.
"This was embarrassing," Tang said in his Cincinnati postgame interview. "These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform. There will be very few of them in it next year. I'm embarrassed for the university, for our fans, and our student section. It is just ridiculous. We've got practice at 6 am, and we will get this thing right. I have no answers and no words, so you all have two questions out of me. Right now, I'm pissed."
Beyond just a Tournament bid or Big 12 contest, this effort was ghastly. Cincinnati just had its way all game, with the Wildcats looking like they were on a completely different planet than their opponent. It was another horrid performance in a sea of terrible games this season. Even if the team had no preseason expectations, this drastic dive would still be a bad look.
"These dudes gotta have some pride," Tang said. "It means something to wear a K-State uniform. It means something to put on this purple. Everything this university is about and all that it's been about, and why I love this place. They don't love this place, so they don't deserve to be here."
This message, while likely needed, seems a bit too late. Tang has spent much of the losing streak expressing pride toward the players, which felt more like a lack of accountability than support amid rough patches. Also, it's not the greatest look when you say players on the active roster shouldn't return to the team the next season. It's going to be very hard to come back from those words in the locker room with them, especially if any come back next year.
"Just 10 days ago he spoke about how much he loved these guys and that this is the group he chose to ride with. Now he’s saying they don’t deserve to wear the uniform. Jerome Tang assembled this team. It’s 100% on him. And no, it will not get fixed," K-State sports fan Cole Manbeck tweeted.
The descent into darkness only gets bleaker after this response, and now Kansas State has to take on No. 3 Houston this Saturday in Fertitta Center.