Kansas State officially introduced its 27th head coach, Casey Alexander, on Monday, turning the page after firing Jerome Tang "for cause". Early impressions made one thing clear: Alexander’s approach is different — and it may be exactly what the Wildcats need.
Casey Alexander looks to build a consistent program at Kansas State
Alexander’s goal isn’t to clean house and bring in an entirely new roster. That’s the furthest takeaway from Monday’s press conference. Instead, the first-year head coach from Belmont wants things done differently, and in a way that uplifts both the university and local community.Â
"I want to see some retention. I don't wanna flip a roster over every season."
— Noah Sacco (@NoahSaccoTV) March 17, 2026
Rather than throwing darts for short-term wins, Casey Alexander puts a high price on roster retention
He expects plenty of turnover in Year One and wants to build a consistent program #KStateMBB pic.twitter.com/190fFbSDwS
Alexander spoke on the impact of not only keeping players and allowing them to develop, but also making sure they’re in touch with the fanbase.
“I want you to see some consistency,” Alexander said. “I don’t want to flip a roster over every season. That might take a minute or two for us to get to that point, but we don’t want to see that on an annual basis.”
In his first season at K-State, Tang leaned heavily on the transfer portal – and it paid off. Meanwhile, one of Alexander’s former players, Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Tyler Lundblade, is already in the portal following his departure
If Kansas State emerges as a destination for Lundblade, there’s no telling who else Alexander could retain.Â
Roster turnover ahead of the 2027 season could make things difficult
It’s hard to say this early which members of the 2025–26 Wildcats will test the transfer portal, but much of that could hinge on the decision of starting point guard P.J. Haggerty. He was one of four starters – alongside Abdi Bashir Jr., Khamari McGriff and Nate Johnson – who transferred in last offseason.
Given the circumstances of last season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see roster turnover continue, especially amid the coaching change. That reality alone could make it difficult for Tang’s recruits to stick around.
Concerns like that raise real questions around Alexander’s first season, and whether or not he’ll find immediate success with his lack of Power Five coaching experience. Only time will tell.
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