MANHATTAN, Kan. — This game felt like a do-or-die moment for the Kansas State men's basketball team and its head coach.
If the Wildcats could beat the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday inside Bramlage Coliseum, their chances of earning an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament were still going to be alive and everyone associated with the program would have reason to hope. But a loss would be devastating. So much so, that it would leave even the most optimistic of fans wondering about Bruce Weber's future.
Now that the results are in and K-State lost its important home game against Iowa State, 74-73, it's officially time to start wondering if this might be Weber's final season in Manhattan.
"It's a tough loss, for sure," K-State junior guard Markquis Nowell said. "We played so hard, especially in the second half. To come up short, It's just a testament of the way this year has gone."
Reaching the NCAA Tournament was the stated goal for this team coming off a pair of losing seasons. And the Wildcats (14-14, 6-10 Big 12) are nowhere near reaching it.
K-State can still qualify for March Madness by hoisting a trophy at the Big 12 Tournament next month in Kansas City. But this team is NIT bound, at best, without a string of improbable victories at T-Mobile Center. The odds of that happening are low, as the Wildcats haven't won three straight games against conference opponents all year.
No postseason definitely puts Weber's job status in jeopardy. He is on the proverbial hot seat, and it might be too late for him to cool it down.
He seemed to realize as much when the Wildcats were unable to pull ahead of the Cyclones in the closing seconds of Saturday's game and slammed his clipboard on the court in frustration.
"I keep saying we're good enough," Weber said. "I told you guys I believe we belong in the NCAA Tournament, but now you have got to earn it. We have put ourselves in another bind."
Weber built up a great deal of good will when he guided K-State to a pair of Big 12 championships and five NCAA Tournament appearances in his first seven seasons. Even though he was never the most popular coach in Manhattan, few could argue with his accomplishments.
He ranks third all time among K-State coaches in both total victories (184) and conference championships (2). An argument could be made for him as one of the top five coaches in school history.
But fans are getting restless now that the Wildcats haven't posted a winning season since 2019. Some put Weber on the hot seat when K-State only won 11 games during the 2019-20 season and K-State athletics director Gene Taylor had to give him a public vote of confidence when the team continued to flounder and only won nine games last season.
He was brought back with the understanding that Year 10 would be a make-or-break season for him.
Most assumed a return to the NCAA Tournament would be enough to generate excitement about the future. But attendance has been down at Bramlage the past three seasons. Saturday's attendance of 8,090 was among the largest home crowds of the season. There are signs of fan apathy. A .500 record isn't good enough.
Weber only has one year remaining on his contract, which is set to expire in the spring of 2023. His buyout is currently $1 million, and it drops to $500,000 on April 30.
Taylor must decide on Weber's future in the coming weeks. He will need to part ways with Weber or offer him an extension. It's also possible Weber could choose to retire or move to a different position within the athletic department, similar to the ambassador role of former K-State football coach Bill Snyder. There's no way he returns as a lame-duck coach in the final year of his current deal.
Clarity will likely arrive soon.
But all signs are pointing toward a sad ending for Weber at the moment. That's how much losing this game hurt.
