Eye On College Basketball – Kansas State's Jerome Tang Calls PJ Haggerty BEST PG In The Country + What Went Wrong Last Season

Date: October 23, 2025
Host: CBS Sports (Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander)
Guest: Jerome Tang (Kansas State Head Coach)

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, CBS’s Eye On College Basketball welcomes back Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang. The conversation is a candid, wide-ranging interview diving into the challenges Tang faced last season, his philosophy on scheduling, honest self-reflection, the evolving dynamics of managing a college basketball roster in the NIL era, and high expectations for standout guard PJ Haggerty. Tang also gives a detailed preview of his roster, sharing genuine excitement over team chemistry and leadership development heading into the new season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Balancing Big 12 Scheduling & Non-Conference Methodology

[01:01] – [03:06]

• Tang strongly believes non-conference scheduling should prepare teams for the physical and mental grind of the Big 12.
  • “Scheduling a non conference is to prepare you for the Big 12…if you win 10 or more games in the Big 12, you’re going to go to the NCAA tournament. As long as you had a decent non conference, it doesn’t matter who you played, it was decent.” – Jerome Tang [01:40]
• Striking a balance is key: scheduling too many "cupcakes" doesn’t build resilience, but an overly difficult slate can be damaging if roster turnover leaves the team unprepared.
  • “If you play too hard of a schedule...now you're putting yourself at a deficit.” – Tang [02:13]
• Tang aims for 5–6 high-major non-conference games in addition to the 18-game Big 12 slate for approximately 23–24 high-level games per season.

Self-Reflection: What Went Wrong Last Season?

[03:06] – [05:54]

• Tang is forthright about last year’s struggles, naming himself as a primary factor.
  • “I went wrong...expectations without grace leads to disappointment and frustration. And I, for a long part of the season, was living in frustration and disappointment.” – Jerome Tang [04:01]
• He discusses how the advent of NIL has profoundly changed the locker room dynamic—not just for players but for coaches, too.
  • “Nobody talked about how [NIL would] impact me as a coach. How would I respond to paying guys? Guys are being paid and then they're still acting like 18 to 23 year olds. Their professionals, they're pros, money wise, but they're not professional.” – Tang [04:24]
• Tang credits his staff with giving him a needed intervention, making him realize he was the source of discord.
  • “We're sitting in the Virgin Islands...everyone is saying something. And I said, man, it sounds like y'all are saying that I'm the issue, but none of y'all have the balls to stand up and say, coach, you're the issue. And I heard it loud and clear.” – Tang [06:03]

Staff Accountability & Culture

[05:54] – [06:40]

• Tang praises his assistants for their honesty and willingness to call him out when necessary, specifically naming Bill Peterson and Matt Driscoll—veterans unafraid to challenge their boss in the name of improvement.
• The episode underscores the importance of healthy staff communication and coachable leadership.

PJ Haggerty: “Best Point Guard in the Country”

[07:16] – [08:19]

• Tang is unabashed in his praise for transfer PJ Haggerty:
  • “He’s the best point guard in the country and he just hasn’t been required to be a great leader.” – Jerome Tang [07:16]
• Haggerty’s playmaking, improvement as a passer, and increasing comfort as an on-floor leader draw rave reviews.
  • “He's a way better passer than I thought…he sees, makes adjustments on his own on the floor and moves guys around…makes great suggestions basketball wise. Now it's just about all the other little things, you know, off the court…” – Tang [07:41]

Roster Preview: Depth, Versatility, and Defensive Strategy

[08:19] – [11:06]

• Kansas State is unusually deep at guard (six-guard rotation), with athleticism and versatility throughout.
  • Bashir is tagged as a top shooter; Nate Johnson as an elite, multi-positional defender; C.J. Jones with high defensive potential; David Castillo playing at a “high, high level” [08:33–09:31].
  • Moby is also called out as a top defender along with Johnson, with both providing flexibility for diverse lineups [08:44].
• The team may feature four-guard lineups, leveraging size and switchability on defense.
  • “We wanted depth at the guard position because in college basketball you win with guards…And then I wanted bigger guards, more size because we struggled defensive rebounding.” – Tang [10:17]
• The stronger perimeter presence is expected to make inside play easier for forwards, and the gravity of shooters like Abdi and Andre is emphasized.

Team Chemistry, Leadership, & Off-court Development

[11:06] – [12:15]

• Tang spotlights the team's unified spirit and willingness to face adversity together, referencing team-building activities like “Shark Week” and a retreat conquering fears.
  • “…This is a group of guys that you don't mind going through tough times with…they haven't shied away from it, man.” – Tang [11:29]
• He expresses excitement to see if their shooting prowess and chemistry translate against live competition.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Expectations without grace leads to disappointment and frustration.” – Jerome Tang [04:01]
• “He’s the best point guard in the country and he just hasn’t been required to be a great leader.” – Jerome Tang on PJ Haggerty [07:16]
• “We're sitting in the Virgin Islands...it sounds like y'all are saying I'm the issue, but none of y'all have the balls to stand up and say, coach, you're the issue. And I heard it loud and clear.” – Jerome Tang [06:03]
• “You guys. Y'all just smash it like Brandon Davies.” – Jerome Tang, complimenting the hosts’ show style [13:48]

Lighthearted Closing: Tang on the Podcast’s Appeal

[12:51] – [13:54]

• Tang enjoys the hosts’ insight and their personal, relatable banter—highlighting stories about family misadventures and inside jokes like the hand, foot, and mouth (coxsackie) story.
• “When you're you and he's him…It's like I’ve lived that. I just relate to you guys. And so it's fun to listen to guys I can relate to.” – Jerome Tang [13:12]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:01] – Tang’s scheduling approach for balancing Big 12 and non-conference play
• [03:06] – What went wrong last season and personal growth
• [05:54] – Staff accountability and culture
• [07:16] – PJ Haggerty as “best PG in the country” and leadership development
• [08:19] – Deep dive on roster strengths and positional versatility
• [11:29] – Team chemistry, preseason insights, and building resilience
• [12:51] – Tang’s appreciation for the Eye On College Basketball pod and hosts’ style

Summary

This episode is a masterclass in honest coaching leadership, program-building, and embracing both accountability and optimism. Tang’s candor about struggles in the NIL era, the intricacies of scheduling for competitive success, his faith in transformative transfers like PJ Haggerty, and humorous asides about the podcast itself provide fans and insiders alike with both entertainment and deep strategic insight.