For a few weeks, Kansas State fans probably wondered where forward Mobi Ikegwuruka was.
Well, coach Jerome Tang slightly clarified his absence in a statement. The rotational big man is dealing with personal issues that will continue keeping him off the court.
“Mobi is dealing with a private matter and remains a member of our team,” Tang said in a written statement. “He is eligible to be with us, but is not personally ready. We love him, and he has our full support.”
Ikegwuruka is averaging 1.9 points and two rebounds this season. His last appearance was against Arizona, where he had four points and two steals in six minutes of action. Without him, an already-shorthanded frontcourt has been more vulnerable. The team has also been without starters Elias Rapieque and Khamari McGriff in a big chunk of its Big 12 play.
Amid these injuries, Tang expressed his frustration with league rules that could have negated this issue.
"If they would give me consistent rules, then I know how to move forward and operate," Tang said. "I will figure it out because I have a staff that's relentless. If we can bring in G-League players, I wanna do it. Whatever they’re gonna allow us to do, I want to do or stop everybody from doing it, and let’s all proceed the same way."
The Wildcats host Iowa State (19-2, 6-2 in Big 12) on Sunday afternoon.
ESPN ISN'T PLAYING SPOILER WITH AVERY JOHNSON PREDICTION
ESPN dropped its latest college football quarterback predictions for all Power Four teams in 2026.
And to no surprise, they project that senior signal-caller Avery Johnson will be under center for Kansas State next season.
The article wrote:
"New coach Collin Klein recruited Johnson to Manhattan as the Wildcats' offensive coordinator. Now he'll get to build around the senior in his first year leading his alma mater. The return of Klein should be a big positive for a 26-game starter and proven dual-threat talent who's looking to take his game to another level in his final season."
The Wildcats have decent depth at the position, but neither poses a real threat to Johnson's starting role.
"Barring any portal attrition, Kansas State is working with really solid depth behind Johnson. The Wildcats have two returning backups in Blake Barnett and Jacob Knuth, and two young scholarship QBs behind them in Dillon Duff and incoming four-star signee Miles Teodecki," the article wrote.