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MANHATTAN — Thanksgiving is a time to bring friends and family together, and come this turkey season, it could bring Kansas State and former coach Jerome Tang back together.
The Players Era 16 brackets and matchups were revealed on Thursday, May 21, and they place the Wildcats and Baylor Bears, where Tang returned as associate head coach, on the same side of the bracket.
That means if the Wildcats win or lose their Nov. 24 game against Gonzaga and Baylor has the same result against Alabama, K-State and Baylor would meet on Nov. 26. The tournament is being held in Las Vegas.
Kansas State, of course, fired Tang for cause in February, after a postgame outburst following a loss to Cincinnati on Feb. 11, in which he described his players' efforts as "embarrassing." He continued, "These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform, and there will be very few of them in it next year."
By firing Tang for cause, Kansas State would avoid paying a record $18.675 million buyout. It is believed that Tang and his lawyers are continuing to meet with K-State behind closed doors in pursuit of a settlement, as he has yet to sue the university. Tang had yet to sue the school as of Thursday afternoon.
K-State hired former Belmont coach Casey Alexander to replace Tang on March 13, with a five-year contract averaging $3.4 million annually.
Tang returned to Baylor's staff under Scott Drew in late April. Tang coached alongside Drew at Baylor from 2003-22, serving as the associate head coach from 2017-22, including during the Bears' national championship run in 2021.
Both being Big 12 members, Kansas State and Baylor will play at least once during the 2026-27 season. Those dates have yet to be announced. The Wildcats hosted the Bears in February, making it likely that the two would meet in Waco, Texas, if they play only once this season.
Kansas State will play a third game in Las Vegas on Nov. 27. Other reported dates on the Wildcats' schedule include a Dec. 4 return game at Seton Hall and a Dec. 21 home game against Lindenwood. The Wildcats will also host Creighton this season, though the date has yet to be announced.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State basketball could play Baylor, Jerome Tang in Las Vegas
Continue reading...
The Players Era 16 brackets and matchups were revealed on Thursday, May 21, and they place the Wildcats and Baylor Bears, where Tang returned as associate head coach, on the same side of the bracket.
That means if the Wildcats win or lose their Nov. 24 game against Gonzaga and Baylor has the same result against Alabama, K-State and Baylor would meet on Nov. 26. The tournament is being held in Las Vegas.
Kansas State, of course, fired Tang for cause in February, after a postgame outburst following a loss to Cincinnati on Feb. 11, in which he described his players' efforts as "embarrassing." He continued, "These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform, and there will be very few of them in it next year."
By firing Tang for cause, Kansas State would avoid paying a record $18.675 million buyout. It is believed that Tang and his lawyers are continuing to meet with K-State behind closed doors in pursuit of a settlement, as he has yet to sue the university. Tang had yet to sue the school as of Thursday afternoon.
K-State hired former Belmont coach Casey Alexander to replace Tang on March 13, with a five-year contract averaging $3.4 million annually.
Tang returned to Baylor's staff under Scott Drew in late April. Tang coached alongside Drew at Baylor from 2003-22, serving as the associate head coach from 2017-22, including during the Bears' national championship run in 2021.
Both being Big 12 members, Kansas State and Baylor will play at least once during the 2026-27 season. Those dates have yet to be announced. The Wildcats hosted the Bears in February, making it likely that the two would meet in Waco, Texas, if they play only once this season.
Kansas State will play a third game in Las Vegas on Nov. 27. Other reported dates on the Wildcats' schedule include a Dec. 4 return game at Seton Hall and a Dec. 21 home game against Lindenwood. The Wildcats will also host Creighton this season, though the date has yet to be announced.
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State basketball could play Baylor, Jerome Tang in Las Vegas
Continue reading...
