A Merciful End: K-State’s Defensive Collapse and the Hunt for a New Leader
The Jerome Tang era ends in record-breaking fashion as the Wildcats turn their full attention to Utah State’s Jared Calhoun.
The 2025-26 Kansas State basketball season didn’t just end on Wednesday night; it evaporated. In a performance that John Kurtz and Cole Manbeck described as a “mercy killing,” the Wildcats surrendered 105 points to BYU—the most ever allowed in a single game in Big 12 Tournament history.
Between AJ Dybantsa “clowning” the defense and the irony of mock cheers for late garbage-time buckets, the 12-20 campaign reached a fittingly chaotic conclusion.
With the season buried, the focus shifts entirely to the coaching search. The “buzz” at the Sprint Center suggests Athletics Director Gene Taylor wants a deal finalized this week. The name at the top of the list? Utah State’s Jared Calhoun.
Fresh off being named Mountain West Coach of the Year, Calhoun brings a resume of turning around dormant programs like Youngstown State and maintaining high-level success in Logan.
While Creighton’s Alan Huss remains a person of interest, all signs point to Calhoun as the man to rebuild the culture. Despite the on-court disaster, the 3MA crew noted a surprising lack of “bad blood” in the locker room, suggesting the roster’s issues were less about chemistry and more about a fundamental lack of defensive identity.
Top 3 Takeaways
A Historic Defensive Low: K-State’s 105-60 loss to BYU wasn’t just a defeat; it was a record-setting failure. It marked the fourth time this season the Wildcats allowed over 100 points, the most in school history, signaling a total breakdown of the defensive system.
The Jared Calhoun Lean: Jared Calhoun has emerged as the clear frontrunner for the head coaching vacancy. With a 51-14 record over the last two seasons at Utah State and deep ties to Bob Huggins, Calhoun is viewed as the “energy” hire capable of fixing the Wildcats’ player evaluation issues.
The Roster “Spring Break”: While players like Andre Costic and David Castillo expressed a desire to stay in college, most are waiting to see who the new hire is before deciding on the portal. However, the 3MA crew suggests a “clean slate” is likely necessary, with Taj Manning being one of the few current players viewed as a potential “program guy” for the next era.