Kansas State HC Jerome Tang elated over getting whole roster ready in June for the ‘first time’ in his tenure

Kansas State basketball head coach Jerome Tang is thrilled to have his full roster ready in June for the first time in his tenure. Even though K-State had a winning season in Tang’s second year, he expects more than just making it to the NIT. Tang has a plan to bring together 10 new players this season.

With just three returning players and ten newcomers, the team has undergone significant changes. Eight of the new additions are from other Division I schools, one comes from junior college, and one is a high school player. Players like Macaeleab Rich and Taj Manning are returning, per reports.

The only player absent at the start of summer workouts is returning super-senior forward David N'Guessan, who is currently representing the Dutch national team.

With a fully stocked roster, the Wildcats coach is eager to get started:

"This is the first time we've had our whole roster done in June," Tang said [h/t Topeka Capital-Journal]. "Our first year, Keyontae (Johnson) didn't show up until August, right when school was starting, and Desi (Sills) didn't get here until October. And then last year we didn't get a couple of guys until August or September, in that area, right after school started.”

Coaches plan to implement various team-building activities to foster trust and camaraderie among players in the next couple of months before the fall semester begins.

"So, we're going to get to spend the whole four weeks in July of workouts with the whole group here,” Tang said. “I believe that's going to make a huge difference in how things get going."

The Wildcats have what it takes to return to the NCAA Tournament in Tang’s third season. They've got several strong 3-point shooters, and Michigan transfer Dug McDaniel is a true point guard.

Their front line is the most diverse it’s ever been, featuring Samford transfer Achor Achor, Kentucky's 7-footer Ugonna Onyenso, and 6-10 forward Coleman Hawkins from Illinois.

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Under Jerome Tang team chemistry is expected to flourish quickly

Kansas State's coach Jerome Tang talks to his team (Credits: IMAGN)

In 2022, Jerome Tang became the head coach of the Kansas State Wildcats, taking over from Bruce Weber. The Wildcats aim to surpass their previous achievement of reaching the Elite Eight in Tang's first season. It's expected that the players will easily build team chemistry in early July when they all move into the same apartment complex, just a 30-second walk from the gym.

“They are all going to be there and that is going to help foster that team chemistry we want and for us to identify things we need to work on in order to build that type of chemistry,” Tang said [h/t SI].

After missing the NCAA Tournament last season, coach Jerome Tang has strengthened the roster through the transfer portal, setting up the Wildcats for a promising season ahead.