Kansas State University Athletics
Embracing the Offensive Explosion
Nov 09, 2025 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Shortly after Kansas State put its foot down and raced away from another opponent with a 98-71 blasting of Bellarmine on Saturday, K-State head coach Jerome Tang, on the three-year anniversary of his first game in Manhattan, curiously said that he needed to grow.
Why? Because K-State "has some dudes."
"I have a lot of growing that I have to do," Tang said. "This is very unusual for me. I have to embrace that we're going to outscore people and get better at that because we have some dudes. They can shoot that thing.
"I found myself in the game, we're up 20, and I'm frustrated. I feel like that energy was affecting the guys. I have to get better at that. I have to embrace that part better."
Coupled with K-State's 93 points scored against UNC Greensboro in the season opener, this is the most points K-State has scored in the first two games of a season since 1991-92.
Meanwhile K-State's 62.3% field-goal percentage against Bellarmine marked its highest in a game since 2019.
All-American guard PJ Haggerty and sophomore guard David Castillo led the way.
Haggerty had 23 points and 11 assists, and Castillo came off the bench for a career-high 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-5 on 3-pointers, in just 12 minutes of action for the Wildcats, who shot a blistering 62.3% (33-of-53) from the floor. That included shooting 60.9% (14-of-23) on 3-pointers.
"We have a lot of talent," Haggerty said. "We've been practicing since the summer, and to actually see it against opponents is special. It's early, but we have a great offense, and the defense isn't terrible but we're getting there. There's no selfishness, and everybody does their role. We just try to keep it rolling."
Castillo, who averaged 2.4 points his freshman season at K-State, showed substantial and consistent growth on Saturday.
"It felt good," Castillo said. "All the hard work is paying off. I'm more comfortable. Getting that experience was big and really helpful."
Tang can vouch for that.
"David has put in a ton of work on his shooting," Tang said. "Every time he shoots it, I think it's going on. He's relaxing. He played an incredible game number wise. I'm so proud of David."
K-State got additional help from the outside as Abdi Bashir went 5-of-9 from long range for 15 points. Meanwhile, 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward Khamari McGriff had 16 points on 8-of-8 shooting in 14 minutes.
"He caught the ball and finished and was really efficient," Tang said of McGriff, a senior who transferred from UNC Wilmington. "That left hand right shoulder is big time. We just have to figure out ways to get him to that point."
After allowing just 37.7% shooting in the opener, K-State allowed 45.9% to a Bellarmine squad noted for its barrage of 3-pointers. Bellarmine shot just 4-for-20 from long range against the Wildcats.
"I look at the stat sheet and they're 4-for-20 from 3 in the game, and the gameplan was to take away their 3s," Tang said. "This might be one of the least 3-point attempt games they've had. Our guys did a great job there. When you see guys score at the rim, it frustrates you, but if we're taking away the rim, maybe they're knocking down 3s."
Meanwhile, Bellarmine had great difficulty taking away Haggerty.
Haggerty went 5-of-9 from the floor, including 2-of-3 on 3-pointers, and made 11-of-12 free throws while dishing out a career-high 11 assists.
"We have a great offensive scheme, great shooters, great bigs and wings," Haggerty said. "Just finding them right spots to be effective in the game. I try to get my teammates involved. I know I can score, but I want to try and find them for easy baskets and make the game easy not for myself but for my teammates."
Tang believes that Haggerty, who national basketball expert Andy Katz recently listed as the seventh-best player in Division I basketball, still has another gear to reach his potential.
"I still don't think PJ Haggerty has played well," Tang said. "He's just OK. Eleven assists is good and all that, but there's a whole another level he can get to, and he'll get there. This is average PJ. Special PJ is going to come. It's what he signed up for. I love having him. Late in the clock, he can get his shot or make a play for somebody else and make calls. He's like, 'Run this,' and 'Let's run that.'
"He's a double-double guy every night."
And he's a key cog in a K-State offense that now will face the likes of California, Tulsa, Mississippi State and Indiana in the coming weeks.
"We got weapons," Tang said. "Teams are going to have to figure out what they're going to take away. You can't take everything away. I'm really pleased with how we're coming along."
Shortly after Kansas State put its foot down and raced away from another opponent with a 98-71 blasting of Bellarmine on Saturday, K-State head coach Jerome Tang, on the three-year anniversary of his first game in Manhattan, curiously said that he needed to grow.
Why? Because K-State "has some dudes."
"I have a lot of growing that I have to do," Tang said. "This is very unusual for me. I have to embrace that we're going to outscore people and get better at that because we have some dudes. They can shoot that thing.
"I found myself in the game, we're up 20, and I'm frustrated. I feel like that energy was affecting the guys. I have to get better at that. I have to embrace that part better."
Coupled with K-State's 93 points scored against UNC Greensboro in the season opener, this is the most points K-State has scored in the first two games of a season since 1991-92.
Meanwhile K-State's 62.3% field-goal percentage against Bellarmine marked its highest in a game since 2019.
All-American guard PJ Haggerty and sophomore guard David Castillo led the way.
Haggerty had 23 points and 11 assists, and Castillo came off the bench for a career-high 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-5 on 3-pointers, in just 12 minutes of action for the Wildcats, who shot a blistering 62.3% (33-of-53) from the floor. That included shooting 60.9% (14-of-23) on 3-pointers.
"We have a lot of talent," Haggerty said. "We've been practicing since the summer, and to actually see it against opponents is special. It's early, but we have a great offense, and the defense isn't terrible but we're getting there. There's no selfishness, and everybody does their role. We just try to keep it rolling."
Castillo, who averaged 2.4 points his freshman season at K-State, showed substantial and consistent growth on Saturday.
"It felt good," Castillo said. "All the hard work is paying off. I'm more comfortable. Getting that experience was big and really helpful."
Tang can vouch for that.
"David has put in a ton of work on his shooting," Tang said. "Every time he shoots it, I think it's going on. He's relaxing. He played an incredible game number wise. I'm so proud of David."
K-State got additional help from the outside as Abdi Bashir went 5-of-9 from long range for 15 points. Meanwhile, 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward Khamari McGriff had 16 points on 8-of-8 shooting in 14 minutes.
"He caught the ball and finished and was really efficient," Tang said of McGriff, a senior who transferred from UNC Wilmington. "That left hand right shoulder is big time. We just have to figure out ways to get him to that point."
After allowing just 37.7% shooting in the opener, K-State allowed 45.9% to a Bellarmine squad noted for its barrage of 3-pointers. Bellarmine shot just 4-for-20 from long range against the Wildcats.
"I look at the stat sheet and they're 4-for-20 from 3 in the game, and the gameplan was to take away their 3s," Tang said. "This might be one of the least 3-point attempt games they've had. Our guys did a great job there. When you see guys score at the rim, it frustrates you, but if we're taking away the rim, maybe they're knocking down 3s."
Meanwhile, Bellarmine had great difficulty taking away Haggerty.
Haggerty went 5-of-9 from the floor, including 2-of-3 on 3-pointers, and made 11-of-12 free throws while dishing out a career-high 11 assists.
"We have a great offensive scheme, great shooters, great bigs and wings," Haggerty said. "Just finding them right spots to be effective in the game. I try to get my teammates involved. I know I can score, but I want to try and find them for easy baskets and make the game easy not for myself but for my teammates."
Tang believes that Haggerty, who national basketball expert Andy Katz recently listed as the seventh-best player in Division I basketball, still has another gear to reach his potential.
"I still don't think PJ Haggerty has played well," Tang said. "He's just OK. Eleven assists is good and all that, but there's a whole another level he can get to, and he'll get there. This is average PJ. Special PJ is going to come. It's what he signed up for. I love having him. Late in the clock, he can get his shot or make a play for somebody else and make calls. He's like, 'Run this,' and 'Let's run that.'
"He's a double-double guy every night."
And he's a key cog in a K-State offense that now will face the likes of California, Tulsa, Mississippi State and Indiana in the coming weeks.
"We got weapons," Tang said. "Teams are going to have to figure out what they're going to take away. You can't take everything away. I'm really pleased with how we're coming along."
Players Mentioned
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