Jerome Tang calls for more ‘desperation’ as Kansas State’s losing skid continues
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Tang urges desperation after Wildcats lose 82-73 to UCF, falling to 9-8 and 0-4 Big 12.
- K-State fell behind 36-20, shot 20% from three and could not sustain a second-half rally.
- Wildcats travel to Oklahoma State next; Tang says players must execute to halt the skid.
Of all the disappointing things that occurred for Kansas State during an 82-73 loss to UCF, one thing stood out for Jerome Tang on Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Knights, not the Wildcats, played like they wanted it more.
“We have got to develop more of a desperation,” said Tang, K-State’s head coach. “I watched games yesterday and today, and the most desperate teams win. A bunch of teams were in our situation, and they were all more desperate than their opponent, and they were able to get wins.
“We didn’t start the game or play the whole game more desperate than them. There were certain times that we did, but there were a lot of times that we didn’t. So we just have to develop a greater desperation to change this thing and fix it.”
The week started with four teams at the bottom of the Big 12 standings tied at 0-3. Baylor got its first conference win on Tuesday with a convincing effort against Oklahoma State. Cincinnati followed suit with an energetic win over Colorado.
But when it was K-State’s turn to move out of the cellar, the Wildcats played possum against UCF.
On paper, K-State (9-8, 0-4 Big 12) should have been much more desperate for a win than UCF (14-2, 3-1 Big 12). But the Wildcats didn’t play that way. They fell behind 36-20 in the early going and were never able to take the lead from that point on.
The Knights played with more passion on offense behind 19 points from Ryan Kugel and more energy on defense, as K-State shot 20% from beyond the arc and 45% from the field.
K-State did play hard enough for a brief stretch in the second half. The Wildcats pulled within a single point when PJ Haggerty sank a driving layup to make the score 57-56 with 11 minutes, 18 seconds remaining.
But that is where the rally ended. The Knights responded with back-to-back triples and maintained the lead the rest of the way.
Imagine what might have been possible if the score was tied at halftime before K-State made that push.
“Anybody can come back,” Tang said. “Very few teams can come back and win. That’s where we have got to get to. Hopefully, we don’t get in that hole and then we make that next play and get that next stop. That’s what we have got to get.”
After this lackluster effort, K-State is off to its worst conference start in four seasons under Tang. The Wildcats have lost four consecutive games for the second time this season.
K-State and Utah are now the only two teams still searching for their first Big 12 victory. Utah hosts TCU on Saturday. K-State heads to Oklahoma State. They could meet next week in a battle for last place.
Or the Wildcats could learn to play with more desperation and beat the Cowboys.
Tang said he couldn’t explain why his team came out flat against UCF, but added, “I hope they’re pissed off” about it.
“We didn’t (play with desperation) for whatever reason,” Tang said. “We will keep flipping rocks to figure it out. But I don’t have an answer for that.”
The last time K-State lost four consecutive games, it responded with four straight wins. Granted, three of those victories came against overmatched mid-major opponents. But that stretch did include a win at Creighton.
Tang hopes the Wildcats can respond with a similar winning streak in conference play.
Before that can happen, K-State needs to learn how to play with more desperation.
“They just have to go out and execute,” Tang said. “At some point in time, it falls on their shoulders to do it.”