The Kansas State Wildcats have their new coach. 

Now, let's see what's next in the process. 

The Wildcats recently hired Casey Alexander from Belmont out of the Missouri Valley Conference. After another disappointing finish under former coach Jerome Tang, they now turn to Alexander. 

K-State Roundtable Sports writer Jayden Armant believes the focus now is seeing what type of roster can Alexander construct. He said getting some players from Belmont in the transfer is the biggest key. 

"Now all of the buzz is about him potentially getting some of his top players who have already entered transfer portal and maybe come to the Wildcats," Armant said on the Sunflower Showdown podcast. "It wouldn't be a crazy thing considered most of the Wildcats' roster I don't see them returning. I don't see PJ Haggerty coming back, Nate Johnson is probably not going to come back ... Maybe some of the younger players." 

Drew Scharnowski and Tyler Lundblade have already announced the plan to enter the transfer portal once it opens April 7. Lundblade is he reigning Missouri Valley Conference Play of the Year. 

This seems like a good move for the Wildcats because Alexander is bringing players he is already familiar with. It should make the transition much smoother and help the Wildcats bounce back from two seasons of disappointment. They missed the NCAA Tournament the last years under Tang despite having a big-time NIL payroll in 2024. 

"Alexander talked about shifting the culture and creating something sustainable at Kansas State so he doesn't have to switch the roster every season," Armant said. "I think what he wants to implement, it would be that much easier if he got his own guys in the program." 

Here are some Alexander's initial thoughts on taking the job: 

"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."

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!

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of KansasStateRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com