Jerome Tang had a Zoom press conference with the media today and he provided recruiting update and spoke about his roster heading into this fall. I love listening to Tang because he is straightforward and honest and provides some great quotes. It’s been too long since I’ve done a “From The Couch” column, but listening to today’s press conference motivated me to put one together. Enjoy!

“I feel like we have the talent to have an NCAA tournament team but our margin for error right now is very small and so the the goal is to add a couple more guys that’s going to give us a bigger margin for error that’s going you know add some more firepower to to the roster.“…Jerome Tang, 6/22/23

JM: Tang has two scholarships to give and indicated he’s looking for another big man and then the best available player to fill out his roster.

“If we don’t sign anybody else I feel like we got a group that can get to the NCAA tournament but our goal is not the NCAA tournament so we’re going to keep grinding and turning over every rock to make sure that we can find the right guys.”…Jerome Tang, 6/22/23

JM: I absolutely love that he says stuff like “our goal is not the NCAA tournament.” Fantastic to hear!

“I tell our guys all the time my job is to bring in dudes that’s going to keep you on the bench. Your job is to make sure it doesn’t happen.”…Jerome Tang, 6/22/23

JM: I’ve never heard a coach put it quite like this, but he is absolutely right. That kind of honesty with his players contributes to the positive environment around K-State basketball right now.

“What I’m telling Taj (Manning) is don’t worry about positions there’s only two positions really he should worry about. It’s on the floor or on the bench.”…Jerome Tang, 6/22/23

JM: This was Tang’s response to a reporter’s question asking what position Taj Manning will be playing this fall. Tang doesn’t sound very optimistic that the redshirt freshman will see the floor much this season.

“I don’t know if it’s what I told him I was gonna put him in a choke hold until he, you know, submitted or not let him get back in the car.”…Jerome Tang, 6/22/23

JM: This was Tang’s response when asked how he got Creighton transfer Arthur Kaluma to commit right after his visit to campus. No, Tang didn’t really put him in a choke hold, but I found the answer self-deprecating and hilarious at the same time.

“What I’m getting from NBA teams every workout (Markquis Nowell’s) been in I’ve gotten a call they said he was the best player and they, uh, it was the best workout they had because the energy he brought and how competitive he made it and then they finish with the ‘but he’s five seven’ and I tell him at some point in time if you got the guy who’s the best player, um, in all the workouts going around five seven doesn’t need to matter anymore if he’s the best player.”…Jerome Tang, 6/22/23

JM: I tend to agree with Tang, but I guess that’s not how the NBA operates. I do hope Markquis gets a shot in the league at some point.

View the full press conference here….