Why Jerome Tang refuses to focus on negatives as K-State basketball losses mount
Jerome Tang raised more than a few eyebrows earlier this week when he shared an overly positive message with reporters after K-State suffered a 62-56 defeat at Texas and the Wildcats lost for the seventh time in eight games.
“I see a team that is getting better,” he said at Moody Center in Austin.
Huh?
Over the past month, K-State has gone from looking like a NCAA Tournament team at 14-4 to a squad that could use some late wins just to reach the NIT at 15-11. Most would label the Wildcats as a team that is getting worse, not better.
Some may wonder why Tang hasn’t lit into his players by now, especially in the wake of St. John’s coach Rick Pitino making headlines for throwing his team under the bus following a recent loss to Big East rival Seton Hall. The Red Storm responded by winning their next game against Georgetown.
But Tang has his reasons.
“When guys give you an effort that gives you a chance to win the game, then there is going to be some little thing that can be adjusted,” Tang said on Thursday. “It’s not like you have to throw the baby out with the bath water. So our goal as a staff is to figure out how to keep us moving forward.
“We talk about getting 1% better every day and putting games in a box and moving forward. There’s just little tweaks. If you’re negative then you’re an energy vampire sucking all the energy out of the room. I don’t want to be that guy. I don’t want my team to be that kind of a team. I do believe that we are like one or two plays away from being able to win.”
Tang may have a point there.
Only two of K-State’s eight conference losses came by double digits. Three of them came by one possession.
Make an extra shot here or come up with an extra steal there and the Wildcats could easily have a few more wins and be on the March Madness bubble right now.
Figuring out a way to help K-State make those extra plays in its final five games of the regular season is his top priority at the moment. And he doesn’t think he can guide the Wildcats there with a negative approach.
Besides, K-State players understand the situation. Senior forward David N’Guessan was emotional after the Texas loss. Senior guard Tylor Perry was visibly frustrated last weekend following a loss to TCU.
Perhaps there could be some value in tough love from Tang. But everyone knows that K-State needs to start playing better. So what’s the point in getting negative?
If nothing else, you can always count on Tang to coach his team his way. That means he is going to remain as positive as he can as the Wildcats prepare for their next game against BYU at 1 p.m. on Saturday inside Bramlage Coliseum.
So much so, that he’s still mentioning the NCAA Tournament as a possibility.
“Somebody is going to do it,” Tang said. “Somebody in the country is not on the bubble right now, or not in the field, or is in a struggle, and they are going to get hot.
“A few years ago, one of our guys, David, was at Virginia Tech and they won seven of their last eight games and ended up winning the ACC Tournament. And they were the hottest team going into the NCAA Tournament ...
“Somebody in the country is going to do it. Why not be the Cats?”
This story was originally published February 23, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Why Jerome Tang refuses to focus on negatives as K-State basketball losses mount."