Jerome Tang Previews St. John’s Game
Dec 03, 2024 | Men's Basketball
The Wildcats and Red Storm to play Saturday at 10:30 am CT on FOX.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head men's basketball coach Jerome Tang met with the media on Tuesday afternoon (Dec. 3) to preview the upcoming matchup against St. John's in the sixth and final Big 12/BIG EAST Battle on Saturday morning (Dec. 7) at Carnesecca Arena.
The Wildcats (6-2) will play their first true road game on Saturday morning against the Red Storm (6-2) before a nationally televised audience on FOX. This will be just the third meeting between the schools and the first in more than 60 years since St. John's knocked off K-State, 72-65, on Dec. 10, 1965, in the Sunflower Doubleheader at Allen Fieldhouse
Links to the audio and a transcript of Tang's availability are above.
K-State set the school single-game scoring record in its last outing on Sunday in a 120-73 win over UAPB. Six Wildcats scored in double figures led by senior Achor Achor's 21 points, as the 120 points topped the previous mark of 116 set in a win over No. 6/6 Texas on Jan. 3, 2023. The 21 made 3-pointers were two shy of the school record of 23 set in 1994.
The Wildcats are averaging 81.6 points on 49 percent shooting, including 38.2 percent from 3-point range with 9.9 makes per game. They have already hit on better than 50 percent from the field as well as connected on double-digit 3-pointers in 4 of 8 games this season.
Led by Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino, St. John's is 6-2 on the season, including 5-0 at home, after rebounding from a 66-63 loss to Georgia with a 77-64 victory over Harvard on Nov. 30. The Red Storm opened the season with wins over Fordham (92-60), Quinnipiac (96-73), Wagner (66-45) and New Mexico (85-71) before 2-overtime loss to Baylor (98-99) on Nov. 21. They responded with an 80-55 win over Virginia before the setback to Georgia.
Following Saturday's game at St. John's, K-State will take an exam break before hosting Drake (7-0) at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Tickets start at $18 and can be purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221.CATS or online at kstatesports.com/tickets.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
"On what stands out about St. Johns' RJ Luis' start to the season…
"Well, their whole team stands out. I mean, you know, RJ [Luis Jr.], Zuby [Ejiofor], the kid who transferred from Seton Hall [Kadary Richmond]. They have a really good team, you know, RJ obviously can get downhill and he can make mid-range shots, he's a versatile defender and really tough kid. We actually recruited him some, so know all about him."
On if Achor Achor has grown since getting acclimated to the rotation…
"You know I don't know that he's grown. He's just been given more opportunity, you know, and had a chance and starting to get a little more comfortable and stuff. So, he's a really good player, he can score the ball, he can do a lot of things, he brings energy. And so he'll just, he'll be getting more opportunities, you know, to show the stuff he can do."
On what bringing Dug McDaniel off the bench can do for the second unit…
"You know, everybody gets caught up in this starting, off the bench stuff. You know, I'm not into starters or any of those things, I believe we've got eight, maybe nine guys in a rotation that can help us win and any of them can start, any of them can come off the bench in close games. We got to figure out who the five we want to close with, that's what is more important to me. Dug's a valuable part of what we're going to do, and he's going to play, you know, the minutes are going to balance out. That's always nice when you can bring someone in, when the other team subs and maybe they get a little weaker, you sub and you get stronger, that's always nice."
On if Dug McDaniel has started to figure out how to play point guard at K-State…
"He's getting there, he's working at it. He's working, he's watching film, we're talking, we're doing things in practice. He had a great practice today and I think both he, CJ [Jones], David Castillo, you know, they're all learning and growing. And you know, it takes a little while."
On the team entering a tough part of the schedule…
"Yeah, it's put together that way to help us get ready for the Big 12. And so, you know, we're starting to, like, I feel like the team is starting to figure each other out, and the staff, we're starting to figure the guys out. And so, this is gonna be a great challenge for us, one game at a time, you know, to see how much we can continue to grow."
On having any good memories from New York…
"Yeah, not great ones, but good ones. I think it was 2008 we [Baylor] played in the NIT and we lost in the championship game but my kids were little, and, man, they got to go see The Lion King and, you know, do a bunch of things. And I remember when the year was done, the next year, they were like, 'man, we want to go to New York again,' I was like, 'no, we don't want to go to New York, right? We don't want to go, that's not the place we want to go,' you know. Because they didn't understand it, you know, but yeah, I've had some good memories there, 2 NIT championship games, one that we won and then obviously we played in the Sweet 16 there at Baylor in 2017, 2018 lost to South Carolina, Frank Martin's team. And then couple years ago, you know, winning beat Michigan State and then losing to go to Final Four. So have good and bad memories up there."
On if the 120 points against Arkansas Pine-Bluff was about team chemistry or just good shots…
"Probably a little bit of both, you know. It was definitely a really good shooting night, like I said, I told the guys going in, we're going to shoot 35 threes and we're going to make 15 of them and we'll try an offensive rebound 10 of our 20 misses. And, you know, they shot 40 of them, made 21. And so, yeah, it wasn't just the shooting, it was the guys moving the ball to the right person and then making the extra pass. And because I think 30 of our 40 baskets were assisted, or something like that. So, you know, the guys did a good job passing the ball."
On if the team is where he'd like it to be at this point in the season…
"No. Um, coaches always want them further ahead than where they're at, right and so I'm always thinking we could be better. But I think it's where they need to be at and so it doesn't matter what I want, it's about where we need to be at and for them to grow organically at the right time together."
On lacking in the defensive effort against UAPB…
"I felt we relaxed in the second half and allowed them to, I mean, it was one stretch there, I think they made like, 5 out of 6 shots or something. And you know, a couple of them were, like, some tough ones, but still, you know, some were pretty easy. I think one of the fans in the stands started yelling, 'play some defense,' you know, I mean, it was that bad. So, yeah, it wasn't a great defensive effort, now the aggressiveness that we played with, right, we wanted to be the team with the most energy and the most passion, I thought we did that."
On what he thinks about facing Hall of Fame coaches …
"No, I mean, I wish coach [Rick] Pitino was playing, you know, he's not. He's got players, right, he's done a really good job of assembling a team that can emulate his personality and what he's about. And it is now, don't get me wrong, it's an honor, right, I was a young high school coach and bought his tapes on his black and white press defense. And we did that in high school press the whole time, you know. And as a player, I found one of his tapes I think he was at Boston [University] at the time, it was a individual development tape that I pretty much memorized it, every ball handling drill, all the cone drills, all of those. And, you know, helped me become a better player, that's when I learned, like, you could help, you can become a better player by working at it. And as a coach, that's what I wanted to do for my players. So, and then the fact that, you know, coach Carnesecca just passed away and we get a chance to go up there and play. So, there's a lot that goes into that, you know, as a young person, I never thought that I would be a part of or have a chance to be a part of. And so the blessing that God's given me to be in this situation and experience all of this, I don't take it lightly, but, you know, I'm sure coach Pitino will say, it's not the coach on the sideline, it's those players that are on the floor that's going to make the difference."
On having to accelerate the building process when adding more conference games…
"Yeah, you know, when you have to pick up two more conference games, then it makes you kind of cut back on the number. Because I think initially, we wanted to play like six or seven high major teams in the non-conference but when you pick up two more Big 12 games, you have to drop two games from the non-conference. Well, you know, wouldn't make sense to, in my opinion, to play seven high major games in non-conference and then turn around play 20 in our league. Especially when you have to rebuild your team, you know, and Lord willing, we don't have to do this every year, but, you know, when you have to rebuild your team, there's just so much that you have to teach them, and some of it, I forget that I need to teach them like, 'Oh crap we haven't gone over that,' you know. So yeah, it does make you change how you do things."
On if trips to the U.S. Virgin Islands and New York are opportunities for the team to bond…
"Man, that's an excellent question. And yeah, there is a lot of team building and bonding that needs to take place and can take place. I don't think there's a chemistry or science to how you balance it, but, you know, in [the Virgin] Islands, we made sure that we had great meals together, we got to go out on a catamaran together and have a good time. And then in going to New York, we're going to try and go tour the World Trade Center. You know, that area there, I've never seen it myself, done a tour, and I'd like to do that and have the guys learn that, because you forget, like, for us, guys my age, it feels like yesterday. But for our guys, some of them, I don't know if they were even born when it took place, and so, it's current event for me, but it's history for them, and it's something that I want them to learn and experience and have an appreciation for the people who sacrifice themselves for us."
On facing the best guard duo in Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith…
"Not just a great guard, just a team and in a hostile environment, you know? Yeah, we're excited about this opportunity, you want to see how much we've grown. And we recruited the Smith kid some and so I know how talented he is and just the whole team. So we're excited about this opportunity, I really like the mindset our guys have and how we're growing right now. So and I mean, like as a team, you talk about their offensive rebounding, you know, 38% of their misses, they score and they pride themselves in turning you over and getting out in transition, they're top-eight in the country and they block shots at a high level. You know, there's just a whole lot that goes into this."
On if the team needs a leading scorer when multiple players can score double digits…
"Yeah, man, I like the balance, I like the fact that we have weapons. Teams are going to take certain guys away, each game is up to them to figure out, you can't take everything away, right? And so they're gonna have to figure out who they want to take away. And I like the fact that our guys, you know, the go to guy is the open guy, and when you have a number of guys who can do that, for me, I think it's just more fun at the end of the game, when the game is over, that you guys want to interview different guys every game, rather than the same two guys every game, right? I like it that way. I want nine guys to be interviewed at some point in time during the season by, you know, [ESPN reporters] Holly Rowe and Kris Budden and you guys, that's what you want. You want a balanced team and you want everybody to be excited for whoever's night it is that night."
On if the team is prepared after the Virgin Islands to play the first true road game of the season…
"You know, I hope so, I hope it did. But the fact that we get to play a true road environment before we get into the Big 12 and face those road environments, that's probably what I'm more excited about."
On if he is pleased with how CJ Jones has played the last couple games…
"No, CJ, I think CJ is kind of relaxed a little bit. He's not as aggressive as I want him to be or commanding. You know, you play a point guard position, you can't be quiet, you not only have to talk, you have to command your team. And I'd like to see CJ be more vocal and be more aggressive. And he's got this burst that he doesn't show all the time, and I want him to show that more often."
On some of the traits St. John's has when they're playing at their best…
"Well, they're really aggressive defensively, they pick you up full court, they try to turn you over, they guard without fouling, because they want to wear you down. And one of his things was fouling the games hustle, right, so you foul, the other team gets a chance to rest and you don't want that, you want the other team tired. Offensively, they put a lot of pressure on the rim by driving the ball hard and then throwing the ball to the open person. They get a steal, they pitch the ball ahead so they can go get layups. They don't dribble steals and then on a missed shot, they've got guys going to the glass because, you know, they want second chance shots."
On how important these games are before Big 12 play…
"Just to learn, it's important to learn. But, I mean, we got to win these things right, like, it's real important for us to set us up going into the Big 12. And, you know, these next few games, they're all potential NCAA tournament teams, and so those are the kind of games you want to play and see where you at and show where you're at also."
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The Wildcats (6-2) will play their first true road game on Saturday morning against the Red Storm (6-2) before a nationally televised audience on FOX. This will be just the third meeting between the schools and the first in more than 60 years since St. John's knocked off K-State, 72-65, on Dec. 10, 1965, in the Sunflower Doubleheader at Allen Fieldhouse
Links to the audio and a transcript of Tang's availability are above.
K-State set the school single-game scoring record in its last outing on Sunday in a 120-73 win over UAPB. Six Wildcats scored in double figures led by senior Achor Achor's 21 points, as the 120 points topped the previous mark of 116 set in a win over No. 6/6 Texas on Jan. 3, 2023. The 21 made 3-pointers were two shy of the school record of 23 set in 1994.
The Wildcats are averaging 81.6 points on 49 percent shooting, including 38.2 percent from 3-point range with 9.9 makes per game. They have already hit on better than 50 percent from the field as well as connected on double-digit 3-pointers in 4 of 8 games this season.
Led by Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino, St. John's is 6-2 on the season, including 5-0 at home, after rebounding from a 66-63 loss to Georgia with a 77-64 victory over Harvard on Nov. 30. The Red Storm opened the season with wins over Fordham (92-60), Quinnipiac (96-73), Wagner (66-45) and New Mexico (85-71) before 2-overtime loss to Baylor (98-99) on Nov. 21. They responded with an 80-55 win over Virginia before the setback to Georgia.
Following Saturday's game at St. John's, K-State will take an exam break before hosting Drake (7-0) at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Tickets start at $18 and can be purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221.CATS or online at kstatesports.com/tickets.
HEAD COACH JEROME TANG
"On what stands out about St. Johns' RJ Luis' start to the season…
"Well, their whole team stands out. I mean, you know, RJ [Luis Jr.], Zuby [Ejiofor], the kid who transferred from Seton Hall [Kadary Richmond]. They have a really good team, you know, RJ obviously can get downhill and he can make mid-range shots, he's a versatile defender and really tough kid. We actually recruited him some, so know all about him."
On if Achor Achor has grown since getting acclimated to the rotation…
"You know I don't know that he's grown. He's just been given more opportunity, you know, and had a chance and starting to get a little more comfortable and stuff. So, he's a really good player, he can score the ball, he can do a lot of things, he brings energy. And so he'll just, he'll be getting more opportunities, you know, to show the stuff he can do."
On what bringing Dug McDaniel off the bench can do for the second unit…
"You know, everybody gets caught up in this starting, off the bench stuff. You know, I'm not into starters or any of those things, I believe we've got eight, maybe nine guys in a rotation that can help us win and any of them can start, any of them can come off the bench in close games. We got to figure out who the five we want to close with, that's what is more important to me. Dug's a valuable part of what we're going to do, and he's going to play, you know, the minutes are going to balance out. That's always nice when you can bring someone in, when the other team subs and maybe they get a little weaker, you sub and you get stronger, that's always nice."
On if Dug McDaniel has started to figure out how to play point guard at K-State…
"He's getting there, he's working at it. He's working, he's watching film, we're talking, we're doing things in practice. He had a great practice today and I think both he, CJ [Jones], David Castillo, you know, they're all learning and growing. And you know, it takes a little while."
On the team entering a tough part of the schedule…
"Yeah, it's put together that way to help us get ready for the Big 12. And so, you know, we're starting to, like, I feel like the team is starting to figure each other out, and the staff, we're starting to figure the guys out. And so, this is gonna be a great challenge for us, one game at a time, you know, to see how much we can continue to grow."
On having any good memories from New York…
"Yeah, not great ones, but good ones. I think it was 2008 we [Baylor] played in the NIT and we lost in the championship game but my kids were little, and, man, they got to go see The Lion King and, you know, do a bunch of things. And I remember when the year was done, the next year, they were like, 'man, we want to go to New York again,' I was like, 'no, we don't want to go to New York, right? We don't want to go, that's not the place we want to go,' you know. Because they didn't understand it, you know, but yeah, I've had some good memories there, 2 NIT championship games, one that we won and then obviously we played in the Sweet 16 there at Baylor in 2017, 2018 lost to South Carolina, Frank Martin's team. And then couple years ago, you know, winning beat Michigan State and then losing to go to Final Four. So have good and bad memories up there."
On if the 120 points against Arkansas Pine-Bluff was about team chemistry or just good shots…
"Probably a little bit of both, you know. It was definitely a really good shooting night, like I said, I told the guys going in, we're going to shoot 35 threes and we're going to make 15 of them and we'll try an offensive rebound 10 of our 20 misses. And, you know, they shot 40 of them, made 21. And so, yeah, it wasn't just the shooting, it was the guys moving the ball to the right person and then making the extra pass. And because I think 30 of our 40 baskets were assisted, or something like that. So, you know, the guys did a good job passing the ball."
On if the team is where he'd like it to be at this point in the season…
"No. Um, coaches always want them further ahead than where they're at, right and so I'm always thinking we could be better. But I think it's where they need to be at and so it doesn't matter what I want, it's about where we need to be at and for them to grow organically at the right time together."
On lacking in the defensive effort against UAPB…
"I felt we relaxed in the second half and allowed them to, I mean, it was one stretch there, I think they made like, 5 out of 6 shots or something. And you know, a couple of them were, like, some tough ones, but still, you know, some were pretty easy. I think one of the fans in the stands started yelling, 'play some defense,' you know, I mean, it was that bad. So, yeah, it wasn't a great defensive effort, now the aggressiveness that we played with, right, we wanted to be the team with the most energy and the most passion, I thought we did that."
On what he thinks about facing Hall of Fame coaches …
"No, I mean, I wish coach [Rick] Pitino was playing, you know, he's not. He's got players, right, he's done a really good job of assembling a team that can emulate his personality and what he's about. And it is now, don't get me wrong, it's an honor, right, I was a young high school coach and bought his tapes on his black and white press defense. And we did that in high school press the whole time, you know. And as a player, I found one of his tapes I think he was at Boston [University] at the time, it was a individual development tape that I pretty much memorized it, every ball handling drill, all the cone drills, all of those. And, you know, helped me become a better player, that's when I learned, like, you could help, you can become a better player by working at it. And as a coach, that's what I wanted to do for my players. So, and then the fact that, you know, coach Carnesecca just passed away and we get a chance to go up there and play. So, there's a lot that goes into that, you know, as a young person, I never thought that I would be a part of or have a chance to be a part of. And so the blessing that God's given me to be in this situation and experience all of this, I don't take it lightly, but, you know, I'm sure coach Pitino will say, it's not the coach on the sideline, it's those players that are on the floor that's going to make the difference."
On having to accelerate the building process when adding more conference games…
"Yeah, you know, when you have to pick up two more conference games, then it makes you kind of cut back on the number. Because I think initially, we wanted to play like six or seven high major teams in the non-conference but when you pick up two more Big 12 games, you have to drop two games from the non-conference. Well, you know, wouldn't make sense to, in my opinion, to play seven high major games in non-conference and then turn around play 20 in our league. Especially when you have to rebuild your team, you know, and Lord willing, we don't have to do this every year, but, you know, when you have to rebuild your team, there's just so much that you have to teach them, and some of it, I forget that I need to teach them like, 'Oh crap we haven't gone over that,' you know. So yeah, it does make you change how you do things."
On if trips to the U.S. Virgin Islands and New York are opportunities for the team to bond…
"Man, that's an excellent question. And yeah, there is a lot of team building and bonding that needs to take place and can take place. I don't think there's a chemistry or science to how you balance it, but, you know, in [the Virgin] Islands, we made sure that we had great meals together, we got to go out on a catamaran together and have a good time. And then in going to New York, we're going to try and go tour the World Trade Center. You know, that area there, I've never seen it myself, done a tour, and I'd like to do that and have the guys learn that, because you forget, like, for us, guys my age, it feels like yesterday. But for our guys, some of them, I don't know if they were even born when it took place, and so, it's current event for me, but it's history for them, and it's something that I want them to learn and experience and have an appreciation for the people who sacrifice themselves for us."
On facing the best guard duo in Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith…
"Not just a great guard, just a team and in a hostile environment, you know? Yeah, we're excited about this opportunity, you want to see how much we've grown. And we recruited the Smith kid some and so I know how talented he is and just the whole team. So we're excited about this opportunity, I really like the mindset our guys have and how we're growing right now. So and I mean, like as a team, you talk about their offensive rebounding, you know, 38% of their misses, they score and they pride themselves in turning you over and getting out in transition, they're top-eight in the country and they block shots at a high level. You know, there's just a whole lot that goes into this."
On if the team needs a leading scorer when multiple players can score double digits…
"Yeah, man, I like the balance, I like the fact that we have weapons. Teams are going to take certain guys away, each game is up to them to figure out, you can't take everything away, right? And so they're gonna have to figure out who they want to take away. And I like the fact that our guys, you know, the go to guy is the open guy, and when you have a number of guys who can do that, for me, I think it's just more fun at the end of the game, when the game is over, that you guys want to interview different guys every game, rather than the same two guys every game, right? I like it that way. I want nine guys to be interviewed at some point in time during the season by, you know, [ESPN reporters] Holly Rowe and Kris Budden and you guys, that's what you want. You want a balanced team and you want everybody to be excited for whoever's night it is that night."
On if the team is prepared after the Virgin Islands to play the first true road game of the season…
"You know, I hope so, I hope it did. But the fact that we get to play a true road environment before we get into the Big 12 and face those road environments, that's probably what I'm more excited about."
On if he is pleased with how CJ Jones has played the last couple games…
"No, CJ, I think CJ is kind of relaxed a little bit. He's not as aggressive as I want him to be or commanding. You know, you play a point guard position, you can't be quiet, you not only have to talk, you have to command your team. And I'd like to see CJ be more vocal and be more aggressive. And he's got this burst that he doesn't show all the time, and I want him to show that more often."
On some of the traits St. John's has when they're playing at their best…
"Well, they're really aggressive defensively, they pick you up full court, they try to turn you over, they guard without fouling, because they want to wear you down. And one of his things was fouling the games hustle, right, so you foul, the other team gets a chance to rest and you don't want that, you want the other team tired. Offensively, they put a lot of pressure on the rim by driving the ball hard and then throwing the ball to the open person. They get a steal, they pitch the ball ahead so they can go get layups. They don't dribble steals and then on a missed shot, they've got guys going to the glass because, you know, they want second chance shots."
On how important these games are before Big 12 play…
"Just to learn, it's important to learn. But, I mean, we got to win these things right, like, it's real important for us to set us up going into the Big 12. And, you know, these next few games, they're all potential NCAA tournament teams, and so those are the kind of games you want to play and see where you at and show where you're at also."
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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