Kansas

Jerome Tang changes tone after Kansas State basketball loss to TCU

Published

3 months ago

February 7, 2026

Jerome Tang changes tone after Kansas State basketball loss to TCU

In the days after Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang held a contentious press conference following the Wildcats’ 34-point home loss to Iowa State, the coach had a different tone after his team’s latest loss.

Kansas State lost 84-82 at TCU on Saturday, Feb. 7, blowing a 10-point lead with 5:26 remaining in the game and allowing the Horned Frogs to score the game’s final seven points. The Wildcats led by as many as 18 in the first half and led for all but the final seven seconds of the game.

The loss was K-State’s fourth in a row, dropping them to 1-9 in Big 12 play and 10-13 overall.

Rather than the, at times, combative tone Tang had after the Wildcats’ loss on Feb. 1, the program’s largest defeat under his leadership, the coach accepted more accountability, saying that he and his staff didn’t give his players enough in order to hold on to victory.

“I’m hurting for them, but I’m frustrated because there are things I feel like I can do better, and I’m going to have to figure that out,” Tang said. “It’s just a process, man. This is not how we intended, but this is where we’re at. Life is 10% about what happens to you and 90% how you respond. We’re going to respond the right way.”

Kansas State entered the game dealing with flu-like illnesses throughout the roster, including standout point guard PJ Haggerty, who didn’t start warming up until minutes before. Dorin Buca was added to the team’s availability report late due to illness, but he was able to go. Khamari McGriff, who missed the Wildcats’ previous four games, also dealt with sickness, but made his first appearance since the Wildcats’ Jan. 17 loss at Oklahoma State.

On top of that, K-State remained without Elias Rapieque, Abdi Bashir Jr., and Mobi Ikegwuruka, while Andrej Kostic was ruled out after rolling his ankle during an individual workout earlier in the week. At one point, Tang said the Wildcats were considering playing only five players against the Horned Frogs. They got minutes from eight players, while two fouled out and one finished with four fouls, resulting in a 36-8 free-throw discrepancy.

Still, Kansas State had a chance to win, but couldn’t hold on.

“I know we were very stagnant and playing too much one-on-one,” Tang said. “We didn’t get the body movement or ball movement. In the first half, it was turnovers… Our margin for error is too small for us to make those kinds of mistakes or ever relax or think we’ve got this, because it’s never going to be easy for us.”

Tang wasn’t asked directly about a “message for the fans,” as became the talking point throughout the week, even though he didn’t feel the need to give one after the loss to Iowa State.

But he had a message of sorts ahead of the Wildcats’ next home game, taking place Wednesday, Feb. 11, against Cincinnati at Bramlage Coliseum.

“We have to bring this kind of focus and energy to Bramlage,” Tang said. “Our fans deserve that right now. It’s gonna help our opponents, too, but our fans deserve this kind of focus and energy. We’re gonna do a great job as a staff of having them locked in.”

Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com

Source link

Click to comment

Kansas

Kansas City, Kansas, becomes sister city to Concepción, Argentina, ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

Published

11 hours ago

May 7, 2026

Press Room

Kansas City, Kansas, becomes sister city to Concepción, Argentina, ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

KSHB 41 reporter Fernanda Silva covers stories in the Northland, including Liberty. She also focuses on issues surrounding immigration. Share your story idea with Fernanda.

—

Kansas City, Kansas, is now a sister city to Concepción, in the Tucumán province of Argentina.

The connection that carries deep personal meaning for members of the Kansas City area’s Argentinian community, with less than six weeks until Lionel Messi and their national team play at Kansas City Stadium (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium).

Kansas City, Kansas, becomes sister city to Concepción, Argentina, ahead of World Cup

The official Sister Cities Agreement was signed Wednesday at Sporting Park, in a ceremony that also served as the kickoff of a broader cultural and economic initiative connecting Argentina and Kansas.

Federico Carmona has lived in the United States for more than two decades. He spent Wednesday afternoon cheering and smiling.

“This is my dream,” Carmona said.

For Carmona, the moment was personal — a merging of the two places he calls home.

KSHB/ Brian Luton

“This is a blessing,” Carmona said.

He continued, “Argentina is my heart. I was born in Argentina. I have so much passion for soccer. I used to play, my kids play. We never thought that Argentina was going to be in Kansas City. So that was a big, big surprise for us.”

Claudia Luna West, chair of the Sister Cities Association and a native of Concepción, Tucumán, was one of the driving forces behind the partnership.

“It means the world to me,” Luna West said.

She described the pairing of the two cities as a natural collaboration — like the ingredients of a perfect recipe coming together.

“Everything collaborates to be this great thing,” Luna West said.

That recipe metaphor extended to food. The event featured the announcement of a partnership between Kansas BBQ Empanadas and Jack Stack BBQ — a culinary symbol of the two cultures meeting.

“Now, empanadas aren’t going to be just an ethnic food. They’re going to be a landmark of Kansas,” Luna West said.

Mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK, Christal Watson, said the designation reflects the city’s diversity and its ability to connect with the world.

“I think it’s important that we set a global stage on how diverse we are and how beautifully, wonderfully made we are with all the different cultures,” Watson said.

Watson said shared experiences — including food — are what bring communities together.

“Food is a common link. Those are the things that get us engaged… those are the things that help us grow and be a better community overall,” Watson said. “We already have a flavor going on.”

Jake Reid, president and CEO of Sporting Kansas City, said the timing of the sister city announcement — with the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching — felt right.

Jake Reid, President and CEO of Sporting Kansas City .png

“We’ve been planning this for so long. I think to have it on the doorstep now and be probably a month out is becoming very real and exciting,” Reid said. “They’re meant to be from… kind of everything we’ve got going on right now, for sure.”

For Carmona, the day was a long time coming.

“We can’t wait for all this to happen,” Carmona said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

—

Source link

Kansas

Kansas State football player’s dad blasts sport’s current state as son departs

Published

23 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Press Room

Kansas State football player’s dad blasts sport’s current state as son departs

MANHATTAN — Kansas State will have a new kick returner come fall after Bryce Noernberg departed the team, and his dad used some colorful language in a Facebook post to announce it.

A K-State spokesperson confirmed that Noernberg left the team after the spring season. He returned 20 kicks over the last two seasons for an average of 27.8 yards per return. He scored one touchdown and also coughed up the ball multiple times.

In a Facebook post, Noernberg’s father, Scott, wrote that it had been an amazing few years in Manhattan, but then “Division I college football does what it does.”

“New head coach Colin (sic) Klein brought in all new coaches and players… paid them accordingly and (Noernberg) found himself at the bottom of the depth chart,” Scott Noernberg wrote. “Not wanting to start over again as a true walk-on freshman, he basically told them to kiss his ass!!

“Well done Bryce! I’m so proud that you stood up to the system! D1 athletics is in a very sad state, and it’s times like this that make you grow as a man!”

Also a wide receiver, Noernberg saw one offensive snap over his two seasons with the program. He was unlikely to find an offensive role for the Wildcats this year, considering the return of Jaron Tibbs and the additions of Josh Manning, Izaiah Williams, and Derrick Salley Jr. Other returning players, like Adonis Moise and Larry Porter IV, were also considered ahead of him.

His departure does leave a void at kick returner, which Noernberg wasn’t guaranteed to keep heading into the year.

Source link

Kansas

Wichita interchange is the most stressful in Kansas, poll says

Published

1 day ago

May 6, 2026

Press Room

Wichita interchange is the most stressful in Kansas, poll says

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — An interchange in Wichita is the most stressful off-ramp in Kansas, according to the results of a new poll.

The poll, by personal injury law firm Regan Zambri Long, asked 3,011 drivers across the United States what off-ramps are the most stressful.

Based on their results, Interstate 135 Exit 5B to Kellogg Avenue took the top spot in Kansas.

The poll said traffic often slows down at this interchange because it is where two major routes meet. Exiting vehicles have to merge and prepare for nearby exits on Kellogg, making speeds fluctuate.

Second place was Interstate 70 Exit 356 to Wanamaker Road in Topeka, and the third-most stressful off-ramp is Interstate 35 Exit 220 to 119th Street in Overland Park.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

Source link