K-State relied heavily on freshman point guard David Castillo and junior-college transfer Mobi Ikegwuruka during a narrow loss against Texas Tech earlier this week. Tang sent a message in the process: He is ready to build for the future with young players who display maximum effort when they are on the court.

As the Kansas Jayhawks gear up to face in-state rival Kansas State in Saturday’s Sunflower Showdown, Wildcats head coach Jerome Tang didn’t hold back on his respect for the Jayhawks’ defensive intensity.

On a four-game losing streak and no road wins in a year, Jerome Tang remains upbeat ahead of K-State's Sunflower Showdown game at Kansas this weekend.

The Wildcats are projected as a No. 3 seed in the latest women’s basketball Bracketology from ESPN. That feels right. But K-State does have some favorable metrics. Those could help the Wildcats climb up to the No. 2 line. They rank No. 5 nationally in the NET and at Bart Torvik.

Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang is not convinced that extending a series with Wichita State is in the Wildcats' best interest.

Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang talks about the gap between his program and Houston's after their loss Saturday.

Shortly after Houston defeated K-State 87-57 on Saturday, Jerome Tang tipped his proverbial hat to the Cougars and said they have become what the Wildcats aspire to be.