With a revamped roster and a tough slate ahead, Kansas State men’s basketball unveiled its 2025–26 nonconference schedule Monday, spotlighting 10 home games including Cal and Seton Hall.
The Wildcats open the season Oct. 31 with an exhibition against Newman at Bramlage Coliseum, then host five straight games starting Nov. 4 vs. UNC Greensboro.
Other early home highlights include Bellarmine (Nov. 8), Cal (Nov. 13), and Tulsa (Nov. 17), offering a mix of challengers to test the team’s depth and chemistry.
'25-26 Schedule taking shape 🗓️https://t.co/eJ1s6STnEo // #EMAW pic.twitter.com/nILPClop9x
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) July 28, 2025
In total, K-State will play 19 home games this season, with Big 12 powers Baylor, BYU, Iowa State, and Kansas also scheduled to visit. The Wildcats aim to capitalize on home-court advantage as they build toward conference play.
The team heads to Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center Nov. 20–21 for the Hall of Fame Classic, opening against Mississippi State at 8:30 p.m. CT. The second game will pit them against either Nebraska or New Mexico. Tickets go on sale Sept. 3.
Two key road tests stand out: Nov. 25 at Indiana — the first meeting since 1998 and first trip to Bloomington since 1985 — and Dec. 13 at Creighton. The Creighton game starts a home-and-home, with the Bluejays visiting Manhattan next season. These matchups will be crucial measuring sticks.
Seton Hall visits Manhattan on Dec. 6, renewing a series dormant since 1940 and kicking off a home-and-home.
The rest of the schedule will be released later.
Head Coach Jerome Tang faces a pivotal season after significant roster turnover. Only four scholarship players return: CJ Jones, David Castillo, Mobi Ikegwuruka, and Taj Manning, placing a premium on leadership and quick integration of new talent.
To reload, K-State made major moves in the transfer portal, securing MAC Player of the Year Nate Johnson from Akron, Bowling Green’s Marcus Johnson (16.2 PPG), and Memphis’ second-team All-American PJ Haggerty.
Other newcomers include Khamari McGriff (UNC Wilmington), Abdi Bashir (Omaha), international signees Elias Rapieque and Andrej Kostic, and 6-foot-11 JUCO center Stephen Osei, expected to redshirt.
With a revamped roster and a challenging nonconference slate, K-State hopes to build early momentum heading into Big 12 play.