It's been a rough few years for Kansas State basketball. A 2023 Elite Eight run was followed by several miserable seasons, including the 2025-26 disaster. A recent track record like this, with a brand new staff and direction, could lower the attraction of playing in Manhattan, KS.
Thankfully, Wildcats coach Casey Alexander has the track record and confidence in the program to get players on board.
"One thing we have for us right now is we haven’t lost any games," Alexander said in his Thursday afternoon presser. "We’re hired at K-State for a reason. We’ve had success, and a lot of it has been on the offense. So naturally, you’re gonna play that up. I don’t ever wanna minimize the defensive end. It’s just not reality that we’re gonna be any good if we can’t play on both ends. But in truth, 95 percent of what kids wanna talk about his offense. Nobody is coming to K-State because of how we close out on the wing or guard the ball in full-court pressure. So that’s where we emphasize. That’s been our strength, so it was a pretty easy sale in that regard."
Despite the recent tumultuous seasons, Kansas State has been relatively successful in its program history. Since 2008, the team has made the postseason 10 times, including consecutive runs from 2010-14 and 2017-19. It's not like losing is in the program's DNA. With this in mind, Alexander expressed his excitement to reach that point again.
"Excitement, because we all know that it can be done there," Alexander said. "The last three coaches have all taken teams to the Elite Eight. Before this recent dry run, the last two or three years, they made the Tournament 10 out of 13 seasons. It's plenty of history, both recently and long-term. So, it’s an awesome job."
Still, he knows it's a process, and success likely won't be immediate. A complete roster overturn with a brand new man in charge will take time before it becomes a complete Tournament contender again.
"There’s absolutely zero reason why we can’t win and can’t win quickly, but it’s also gonna take a lot of work," Alexander said. "It’s a heck of a league, and it doesn’t happen easily. There are a lot of good players, great coaches, and great places in this league. So the challenge is there, and I recognize that. And we’re not settling for middle of the pack, but there’s also a reality where you don’t have to win every game to have a chance to go to the Tournament."
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