yourvalley_net
Kansas State has turned to Casey Alexander as its new head coach after dismissing Jerome Tang, a move that came just three years removed from an Elite Eight run. Tang's departure followed a campaign that ranked as the Wildcats' most disappointing since 2021.
Alexander steps up in competition level after previously leading Stetson, Lipscomb, and Belmont. He faces the challenge of reconstructing a roster that was nearly emptied by graduations and transfers.
Ten Division I transfers headline the incoming class, including Brandon Rechsteiner from Colorado State and Jaden Schutt from Virginia Tech. The top freshman addition is Jaylen Alexander, the Alabama prep player of the year, who initially committed to Belmont before opting to follow the coach to Manhattan.
Rechsteiner started his college career at Virginia Tech before averaging 12 points per game for the Rams last season, a performance that earned him All-Mountain West recognition. Schutt spent 2022-24 at Duke before transferring to Virginia Tech, where he paced the Hokies in made three-pointers in each of the past two seasons.
Brock Vice, a 6-foot-10 forward, joins the program after single seasons at Creighton, North Texas, and Murray State, having been part of 72 wins across his collegiate journey. Meanwhile, high-scoring guard PJ Haggerty moved to Texas A&M in the offseason—his fifth school in five years—and forward Taj Manning departed for Big 12 rival Iowa State. Nate Johnson, Khamari McGriff, and C.J. Jones all graduated, giving the Wildcats a fresh start.
Key Analysis
Rechsteiner and Schutt are expected to anchor the backcourt, while Vice will be joined in the post by 7-foot Xavier transfer Pape NDiaye and 7-1 center JT Rock from New Mexico. The schedule features a home game against Creighton early in the season, a guaranteed matchup with Gonzaga at the Players Era in Las Vegas, and a second-round game against either Alabama or Baylor. Non-conference contests against Seton Hall and Wichita State also await.
Alexander brings a remarkable streak of ten consecutive seasons with at least 20 wins. The only other active coaches with such a run are Gonzaga's Mark Few, Houston's Kelvin Sampson, and Kansas's Bill Self. Last season, Alexander guided Belmont to the Missouri Valley regular-season title, though the Bruins were upset by Drake in their conference tournament opener in St. Louis.
Kansas State's three conference victories last season matched its fewest since the 1999-2000 campaign, underscoring the rebuild ahead.
Originally reported by yourvalley_net.