Following an Elite Eight in 2023, Jerome Tang’s Wildcats suffered a second-year slump. Tang’s first season at the helm raised College basketball betting. Year three is set to be a big one. Cause by a talented roster with no excuse not to get back to the Big Dance if you’re Tang. Also, the NIL for K-State hoops is rumored to be one of the best in the sport. So, if Tang wants to keep that money flowing in, a big season needs to be on the horizon. Just three players return from last season’s letdown, most notably David N’Guessan.
2024-25 Kansas State Wildcats Basketball Preview
| Kansas State Wildcats | Odds |
|---|---|
| National Championship Odds: | +7500 |
2024-25 Wildcats Basketball Outlook
Certainly, N’Guessan was an important part of the first two years of Tang’s tenure. He started 39 games across the last two offshore bookmaker seasons as a lengthy and athletic four. Macalaeb Rich (4 ppg) returns after a promising freshman season, adding more depth to the three and four spots. Also, Taj Manning (1 ppg) is the final returner, seeing limited time as a freshman. Additionally, he is likely to see the same role as a sophomore with the number of incoming transfers that can play the three or the four.
Conversely, eight players left Kansas State after the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament this past March. In the backcourt, Tylor Perry (15 ppg, 4 apg), Cam Carter (15 ppg, 5 rpg), Dai Dai Ames (5 ppg), Dorian Finister (3 ppg), and RJ Jones (2 ppg) departed. The Wildcats’ front court lost Arthur Kaluma (14 ppg, 7 rpg), Will McNair Jr. (8 ppg, 5 rpg), and Jerrell Colbert (3 ppg).
Jerome Tang went hard in the transfer portal to replace the NCAABB betting losses. To illuminate, he landed eight transfers with ranging D-I experience. Last season, Dug McDaniel (16 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg at Michigan) was part of a vastly disappointing Michigan squad. But he put up impressive numbers himself.
McDaniel can score at all three levels and is a great creator for his teammates. Of great concern surrounding McDaniel is his ability to stay eligible. McDaniel suffered an academic suspension this past spring. Hence it disallowed him to partake in any road trips in order to stay on top of his schoolwork. If McDaniel is fully ready to go for every game, K-State has itself an experienced power conference point guard.
Namely, Brendan Hausen (6 ppg at Villanova) is another high-major pickup in the backcourt. He came over from Villanova with two years of experience. Following two satisfactory seasons as a bench guard for the Wildcats.
Tang made a handful of high-major additions to the front court as well. Perhaps none more well-known than Illinois transfer Coleman Hawkins (12 ppg, 6 rpg at Illinois). Hawkins was the recipient of a rumored massive NIL deal worth around $2 million. Regardless of how much he got paid, Hawkins will be a vital piece for Tang. It is giving the Wildcats an ultra-versatile forward who can quite literally do everything on a basketball court.
Next to Hawkins in the frontcourt will likely be Kentucky transfer Ugonna Onyenso (4 ppg, 5 rpg at Kentucky). Onyenso’s role at Kentucky blossomed as a sophomore, starting 14 of 24 games. He was establishing himself as an elite rim protector and rebounder.
In conclusion, Kansas State is a team to monitor closely.