Kansas State coach Jerome Tang delivered a blunt message after his team’s 91-62 loss to Cincinnati Wednesday night at Bramlage Coliseum.
After the loss, which marked the Wildcats’ fifth consecutive loss, Tang criticized his players during a brief and tense postgame press conference. Kansas State fell to 10-14 overall and 1-10 in Big 12 play.
“These guys don’t deserve to wear this uniform. Next year there will be very few of them. I’m ashamed of the university. I’m ashamed of our fans and our student section. It’s just ridiculous,” he said.
“It means something to wear a K-State uniform. It means something to put on purple, and everything this university is about and why I love this place. They don’t love this place, so they don’t deserve to be here,” he added.
Kansas State trailed 53-31 at halftime after Cincinnati shot 57 percent from the field. The Bearcats extended the lead to as many as 32 points late in the second half.
Some Kansas State students wore paper bags over their heads during the game. When informed about this after the loss, Tang responded, “I would wear a paper bag too, if I were them,” before leaving the press conference.
Kansas State faces No. 3 Houston on Saturday.
