Jerome Tang and TJ Otzelberger share heated exchange after Iowa State defeats K-State

All the impressive basketball plays that were made during Iowa State’s hard-fought victory over Kansas State on Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum were overshadowed by a heated conversation in the postgame handshake line between head coaches Jerome Tang and TJ Otzelberger.

Well, that and the bizarre few moments that led to that exchange during a timeout in the second half of the contest.

The image that fans on both sides of the Farmageddon rivalry will remember is K-State’s coach stopping Iowa State’s coach in the handshake line to remind him that he wasn’t happy about something that happened behind his team’s bench during the game, which resulted in a 78-67 win for the Cyclones.

Why exactly was Tang displeased? It’s hard to say, because both coaches declined to publicly discuss their conversation.

“Nothing happened,” Tang said. “We talked about a situation that took place during the game and he said he would check into it. Then I told him thank you and went on. I love TJ. He does a great job. What an unbelievable environment it was out there.”

“There’s a point in time where things are said between coaches that needs to stay that way,” Otzelberger said. “So that’s where we’re going to keep it.”

Without a definitive explanation from either coach, their interaction will remain shrouded in mystery.

But it looked like Tang and several of his assistant coaches grew tired of a small segment of Iowa State fans saying inappropriate things to their players during the game.

Late in the second half, Tang ended a timeout by repeatedly pointing a few rows behind the K-State bench and yelling at arena security to handle the matter. When nothing was done, he then crossed midcourt and appeared to try to explain the situation to Otzelberger. Not realizing what Tang was trying to accomplish, Otzelberger urged game officials to slap Tang with a technical foul for leaving his coaching box.

Video of the handshake exchange clearly shows Tang turning back to that side of the arena and repeatedly pointing into the seats where he was complaining a few minutes earlier.

The student section located adjacent to K-State’s bench did not care for Tang pointing into the crowd and began loudly chanting (expletive) K-State as he complained.

Reserve guard Dorian Finister spent that timeout away from the K-State huddle as team trainers treated him for a bloody nose after an Iowa State player inadvertently struck him in the face. It’s possible fans said something inappropriate to him while he was isolated from his teammates.

When asked specifically if he was upset with the behavior of ISU fans, Tang once again declined comment.

“I know you saw what you saw, but I’m not going to talk about it,” Tang said. “I’m more than happy to talk about the game. TJ and I will go figure the other part of it out.”

Some wondered if Iowa State fans were throwing things at the K-State bench, but Tang said that was not the case. It was also possible that Tang was upset with Iowa State’s team managers and other staffers for spending too much time near his team. Could they have been eavesdropping on conversations about strategy?

Fans on both sides are left to speculate.

In any case, Tang was clearly frustrated about that incident and the game in general. K-State fought back from a 14-point deficit to tie the game in the second half, but missed shots and an avalanche of fouls prevented the Wildcats from ever taking the lead.

Tang was eventually whistled for a technical foul in the closing moments, when he reacted with emotion to a foul that was called on David N’Guessan with Iowa State leading 66-62. The Cyclones pulled away from there.

“I wasn’t trying to get a technical,” Tang said. “I didn’t say anything. I just thought it was a bad call and I waved my arm. With the intensity of the game and the moment, I would think that we would all be given a little grace in that moment. Let the players decide it on the floor. So that was my fault, because I waved my arm. I will make sure I don’t wave my arm next time.”

You could hear the frustration in Tang’s voice as he explained that call.

He appeared to be even more fired up during the postgame handshake line with Otzelberger

Both coaches said there was nothing unusual about their conversation. But it didn’t look like a friendly chat. Things could get interesting when these teams play again later this season at Bramlage Coliseum.