Why K-State has won three straight home games against KU under coach Jerome Tang
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jerome Tang has led K-State to three straight home wins over Kansas.
- K-State defenses limited KU to 15 of 60 three-pointers across those three games.
- Key nights by Perry, Sills, Johnson and Hawkins swung close games for K-State.
Former Kansas State men’s basketball coach Bruce Weber used to say that some fans only judged him on one game per season.
If he led the Wildcats to a victory over Kansas when the Sunflower Showdown rivalry made its annual trip to Bramlage Coliseum, the year was a success. But the opposite was true whenever K-State lost that game on its home floor.
His statement was no doubt filled with hyperbole, but it also contained a small amount of truth.
K-State basketball fans care deeply about that game. The home crowds have been sparse inside the Octagon of Doom this season. But you better believe it will be loud when the Jayhawks come to town at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Current head coach Jerome Tang seems to have found a way to tap into the added intensity that surrounds the rivalry. He has come up aces for the K-State fans who only care about one game per year.
The Wildcats are 3-0 at home against the Wildcats under Tang.
“Every game is a big game for our team,” Tang said, “but I know this next game is really important to our fans.”
Tang has found success where other K-State basketball coaches have found failure.
Weber went 3-20 against the Jayhawks, but (true to his word) fans rushed the floor after all three of his rivalry wins at Bramlage Coliseum. Frank Martin only beat the Jayhawks twice. Jim Wooldridge did it once, on the road. Bob Huggins went 0-3 vs. KU during his lone season with the Wildcats.
Kansas coach Bill Self has noticed the difference.
“I actually think for us it is probably as good of a home court that we will play on in our league,” Self said of Bramlage. “We haven’t performed as well as we would hope, but I also think they have had a lot to do with that, especially the last couple of years.”
The Jayhawks (14-5, 4-2 Big 12) will be favored on the road against the Wildcats (10-9, 1-5 Big 12) this weekend. But Self knows it won’t be easy for his team to get a victory.
“They will play at a high level on Saturday, and should,” Self said. “We should have to play at a high level in order to have success. That’s the way it should be in games like this.”
Why has K-State been able to build a home winning streak against its rival?
Some highlights: K-State won 84-74 last season behind 15 points from Coleman Hawkins. Two years ago, Tylor Perry led the Wildcats to a 75-70 win in overtime with 26 points. Three years ago, Desi Sills and Keyontae Johnson both scored 24 in an 83-82 victory over KU.
One common denominator: The Wildcats defended the perimeter well in all three games. The Jayhawks have made just 15 of 60 shots from beyond the arc during this losing streak.
K-State guard David Castillo knows how important it will be for the Wildcats to play well again on Saturday.
“This is what it’s all about,” he said. “It’s the Sunflower Showdown. We know that it’s a big game and a big rivalry. So we will be ready to go.”