The Jerome Tang era ended as poorly as it gets. Can Casey Alexander turn around this Kansas State basketball program in year one?
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Kansas State basketball.
If you had told anyone in the summer of 2023 that not only would Jerome Tang be fired, but the team would go 45-47 and 18-32 in conference play, they’d think you’re crazy. Tang had just led the Wildcats to an Elite 8 finish in year one and was considered the leader of big things to come for many years for the Kansas State basketball program. Unfortunately, that obviously didn’t end up being the case, and he would be fired after starting 1-11 in conference play.
Now, they turn to Casey Alexander, the Belmont coach who won 20+ games all seven years there, winning the regular season title three of those years. He’s established himself as one of the best mid-major coaches, and now makes the leap to show that he’s one of the best overall. His Achilles’ heel is that despite the strong regular seasons at Belmont, he never made the NCAA Tournament. Being at the Power Five level, he’ll have the at-large opportunity, which will obviously make it easier to get there.
This team has experience. Every projected starter is either a junior or senior, which helps a lot for a new coach to have players with experience and maturity under their belt. There’s no clear star, but plenty of guys who played at the Power Five or high mid-major level are ready to take the leap with extended minutes. Jaden Schutt, Dez Lindsay, and Isaiah Abraham all have Power Five experience and experience starting, which should be a benefit for them.
With Alexander, the floor is high because he’s such a great coach, but the talent is lacking compared to some teams in the Big 12. He’ll have to do his best coaching job if he wants to go to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years and try to replicate what Tang was able to do in his year one (although hopefully not replicate the rest).
Head coach: Casey Alexander (16th season overall, 1st at Kansas State)
2025-26 record: 12-20 (3-15)
2026 postseason finish: No tournament
Notable departures:
- P.J Haggerty (23.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.8 APG)
- Abdi Bashir Jr. (13.2 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.3 APG)
- Nate Johnson (12.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.6 APG)
- Everyone else but Andrej Kostic
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. Creighton (Nov. 10)
- Gonzaga (Nov. 24 – Players Era)
- Alabama or Baylor (Nov. 26 – Players Era)
- TBD (Nov. 27 – Players Era)
- at Seton Hall (Dec. 4)
- vs. Wichita State (Dec. 11)
Projected Rotation
PG: Brandon Rechsteiner (6-1, 190, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 12.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 45.1 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 80.9 FT% (Colorado State)
SG: Jaden Schutt (6-5, 200, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 7.7 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.5 APG, 38.4 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 86.2 FT% (Virginia Tech)
SF: Isaiah Abraham (6-7, 205, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 4.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.5 SPG, 38.5 FG%, 32.5 3P%, 69.4 FT% (Georgetown)
PF: Dez Lindsay (6-6, 215, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 5.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 40.3 FG%, 32.8 3P% (Oregon)
C: JT Rock (7-1, 255, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 6.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.9 BPG, 54.5 FG%, 39.7 3P%, 64.4 FT% (New Mexico)
6: Timo Malovec (6-8, 214, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 4.2 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.9 APG, 35.0 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 71.4 FT% (Miami)
7: Montana Wheeler (5-10, 170, So.)
2025-26 stats: 8.5 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 42.6 FG%, 33.7 3P%, 71.2 FT% (Bradley)
8: Andrej Kostic (6-6, 210, So.)
2025-26 stats: 5.2 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 37.7 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 76.9 FT%
9: Pape N’Diaye (7-0, 230, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 2.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.2 SPG, 46.8 FG%, 1.0 BPG (Xavier)
10: Matt Gilhool (6-11, 213, So.)
247Sports Composite No. 109 ranked recruit (2025)
Kansas State basketball team MVP: Brandon Rechsteiner
After two years at Virginia Tech, Rechsteiner transferred down to Colorado State, and it was a great decision, as his numbers jumped across the board. Where he really shines is his three-point shooting. In one season, he improved his three-point percentage from 30% to 40% while shooting two more a game. He also increased his overall shooting percentage by nine percentage points and lowered his turnovers.
Now, he transfers back up, where he is ready to showcase what he learned. Even though he will be the point guard, he’ll definitely be more of a catch-and-shoot option and play on and off the ball. Where he’ll need to improve is his defensive ability. If he can be a plus defender, then he can stay on the court for 34-36 minutes a game and at times be the best player on the floor. He won’t be an All-Big 12 player, but he can certainly be the star of this Kansas State basketball team.
Kansas State basketball make-or-break player: JT Rock
As a four-star recruit, JT Rock committed to the Big 12 at Iowa State. He clearly wasn’t ready for that level, playing just nine games and 2.4 minutes a game. He transferred to New Mexico, where he didn’t play big minutes by any means, but showed improvements on both ends of the floor. At 7’1, he provides a size mismatch in almost any situation, and while he might not average 3 blocks a game, he’ll deter shots with his frame.
Rock saw increased minutes in their NIT run to the semifinal and looked good, scoring 10.3 PPG and 6 rebounds a game. The way this team was set up, the expectation is for him to play big minutes, and if he can do so, then he can be a difference maker. However, he’s played limited minutes his entire career, and if he struggles to stay on the floor, then it could be difficult for this Wildcat team defensively, and games can get ugly fast. He’s going to be one of the most interesting players to watch, but it’s his time to shine; let’s see if he can show up.
Key statistic: Shooting Percentage
Why was Belmont so good last year that they were considered an at-large team as a mid-major? Because they shot the lights out. Belmont shot 51.7% from the field, best in all of college basketball. They led the country in three-point percentage and finished fourth in two-point percentage. Kansas State wasn’t bad by any means under Tang, finishing 106th in field goal percentage, but remember that Tang had way more talent on that team. Alexander focuses on finding the best shot each possession and is a terrific exes and ohs coach to draw up plays to find those shots.
The guys on this team aren’t the most efficient shooters. Lindsay, Schutt, and Abraham all shot 40% or less last year and even worse from three. However, with an offseason to prepare and Alexander’s magic, expect this team to finish towards the top.
Kansas State basketball 2026-27 projections
Projected conference finish: 14th in the Big 12 Conference
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament first round exit/NIT appearance