Kansas State men’s basketball voyages to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam in this year’s rendition of its holiday non-conference invitational.
With arguably the most talented team in the field after diving head-first into the transfer portal during the offseason, K-State will look to out-match the six-team field of George Washington University, Illinois State, Liberty, McNeese State and UAB.
Headlined by wing Coleman Hawkins, K-State signed 11 newcomers and returned just three players from last year. Villanova transfer Brendan Hausen shined early, averaging over 15 points a game as a sharpshooting guard.
Fifth-year center David N’Guessan is the only returner with substantial experience playing under head coach Jerome Tang. N’Guessan averaged 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds through three games.
The roster turnover hasn’t been without its bumps and bruises through the early parts of the season.
In K-State’s first power conference matchup, LSU walked into Manhattan and left with a 76-65 win. LSU’s leading scorer was one of Tang’s former players, Cam Carter, who transferred to the Tigers during the offseason. It was a wake-up call for K-State ahead of the Paradise Jam.
“We didn’t prepare them for that level of competition and the emotional attachment they would have [with Carter],” Tang said. “That was fully the staff’s fault.”
In the days after the loss, K-State responded and prepared for the island invitational.
“I wasn’t embarrassed with our guys,” Tang said. “I was embarrassed with myself that I didn’t have our guys ready. We’ve done a better job the last few days.”
Another reason K-State should see success at Saint Thomas is an anticipated home-court advantage — at least as large of a turnout as a team can have over 2,500 miles away from campus.
Tang and his assistant coach, Jareem Dowling, both spent time in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands before moving to the continental United States. The duo also spent time coaching for the U.S. Virgin Islands National Teams.
Tang said he expects to have lots of Virgin Islands families, players and staff there to support his squad.
“It’s going to be a really cool time,” he said. “And I’m excited that [Dowling and I] get to go back and that our guys get to experience some of what we grew up with — and then play some good basketball.”
Along with local support, K-State fans are known to take advantage of a holiday trip to paradise, helping the Wildcats in their tournament success.
During Tang’s first season at the helm in 2022, when the Wildcats made the Elite Eight and he earned Naismith Coach of the Year honors, K-State won the Cayman Islands Invitational.
K-State tips off tournament play against George Washington at 7 p.m. Friday.
