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In just two years, Kansas State’s head coach Jerome Tang has experienced both triumph and challenge—and this season, he’s primed for a comeback with a fresh approach.
He got off to a quick start in his head coaching debut season, going 26-10 in a loaded Big 12 Conference and making a run to the Elite Eight before falling to Florida Atlantic.
The 2023-24 season had more downs than ups, despite several positive moments, such as Tylor Perry’s late-game heroics or a Sunflower Showdown win in Bramlage Coliseum.
One main difference stands out between Tang’s first two seasons and the 2024-25 season.
In the two prior years that Tang has been at Kansas State, he did not have a roster filled out before the summer began, adding scholarship players late into the summer and extending the process for team cohesion and chemistry.
This year, however, Tang and his coaching staff quickly went to work and had a full roster by the summer, featuring high-profile transfers such as Coleman Hawkins, a 6-foot-10 senior who averaged 12 points and six rebounds at Illinois, and 7-footer Ugonna Onyenso from Kentucky. Both players signed with the Wildcats after withdrawing from the NBA Draft.
“The whole summer was about an abundance,” he said. “We want an abundance. If life hits or injuries happen, we still [want] a roster that can get us to the NCAA Tournament.”
Competing in a powerhouse conference like the Big 12, where every game is a test, Tang’s roster stability may prove pivotal as the team seeks to return to postseason glory.
The added time together has meant more opportunities to build as a team.
“To have everybody in July really helped us build chemistry and get to know each other,” Tang said. “So that's been a blessing.”
Hawkins, who played four seasons at Illinois before transferring to Kansas State, has loved what he’s seen through summer camp and fall practices. He earned preseason honors as the co-Newcomer of the Year alongside Baylor’s Jeremy Roach and was also named to the All-Big 12 second team.
“The pace we play at has really stood out to me,” Hawkins said. “We share the ball and play off each other well. I think if we stay the course, we’ll be really good and able to compete in this conference.”
Kansas State has only three returners from last year’s roster: David N’Guessan, Macaleab Rich and Taj Manning. N’Guessan has taken an active leadership role, welcoming transfers and freshmen alike.
“I gelled and bonded really fast with the guys. The chemistry has been good,” N’Guessan said. “I’m excited to build throughout the season.”
Tang has enjoyed seeing N’Guessan grow over the three years he has been at Kansas State.
“When he speaks or says something, we’re going to listen to him because we value his opinion,” Tang said. N’Guessan is the longest-tenured Wildcat on the roster and the only player Tang has had for all three seasons.
Max Jones is another senior transfer with plenty of experience throughout his collegiate career, starting as a Division II player and eventually finding himself in the Power 4 at Kansas State. He has seen the team grow together as they’ve spent more time on and off the court.
“It’s very easy to connect with our teammates and come together as one,” Jones said.
Tang spoke about Jones’ growth within the Kansas State program so far, calling him “our most improved player from the summer.”
Time will tell if the added time together translates to success, but for now, the sky is the limit.
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