Jerome Tang says Kansas State players ‘do not deserve to wear this uniform’ after 29-point loss
By David Wasson
Published:
College basketball coaches are almost exclusively hypersensitive to delivering public criticism upon their own teams, but every now and then, the truth slips out and becomes a startling exception.
One such exception emerged Wednesday night after Kansas State’s 91-62 home loss to Cincinnati – the Wildcats’ fifth straight setback and 10th Big 12 loss in 11 games this season. After the blowout loss, K-State coach Jerome Tang took to the podium and delivered a stinging rebuke.
“This was embarrassing. These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform. There will be very few of them in it next year. I am embarrassed for the university, for our fans, our student section. It is ridiculous,” Tang said. “We have practice at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning, and we will get this thing right. I have no answers, no words. Right now, I am pissed.”
Tang was then asked about fans who wore paper bags over their heads at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan in an expression of frustration at the Wildcats’ performance, which included falling behind 30-11 in the first 8 minutes and trailing 53-31 at the half.
“These dudes gotta have some pride. It means something to wear a K-State uniform. It means something to put on this purple. … They don’t love this place, so they don’t deserve to be here,” Tang replied. “I’d wear a paper bag too if I was them.”
Tang then walked out of the room.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
