A new chapter has begun for Kansas State men’s basketball, and this time, the program isn’t being steered by interim head coach Matthew Driscoll. Instead, former Belmont leader Casey Alexander has stepped in and already appears to be the ideal long-term fit for the Wildcats.
Three reasons Casey Alexander was the right hire for Kansas State men’s basketball
Even as a first-year head coach at a Power Four school, Alexander brings a deep understanding of the game. Having spent years coaching at both Belmont and Lipscomb, he now brings that same level of excellence to Kansas State.
Over his last ten seasons starting from his third year at Lipscomb his teams have never finished below .500. That stretch includes four regular-season conference championships split between the Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley conferences.
His sole NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2017–18 with Lipscomb, but that run cemented his reputation as a standout mid-major coach. Since then, he’s continued to win consistently and hasn’t looked back.
Alexander’s knack for flipping recruits
After taking the Kansas State job, two things became evident. First, Alexander knows the mid-major landscape inside and out. Second, he’s built such strong relationships with high school recruits that they’re willing to follow him to Manhattan.
It didn’t take long for the Wildcats to flip high school commits Devin Hutcherson and Jaylen Alexander—and these aren’t just average prospects. Jaylen Alexander was named Alabama’s Mr. Basketball in 2026 and also claimed the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year award. Hutcherson, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, was named his conference’s Private Player of the Year and earned First-Team All-State honors as a senior.
On paper, Hutcherson ranks among the most dominant high school players ever to come out of Georgia. The fact that he’s heading to Manhattan should have fans genuinely excited.
Beyond just these two recruits, their anticipated success could set a new standard for future classes. That’s exactly what Alexander emphasized in his opening press conference: he doesn’t want to completely overhaul the roster every season.
Familiarity with the mid-major talent pool
After spending so many years climbing the coaching ladder, it’s no surprise that Alexander knows where talent develops. So far this offseason, that insight has aligned perfectly with the roster he’s building.
Not all of his new additions come from Power Four programs via the transfer portal. Several key pieces such as Murray State transfer Brock Vice, New Mexico transfer JT Rock, and former Colorado State guard Brandon Rechsteiner arrive from strong mid-major schools with proven track records.
There’s also movement going the other way. Some players from last year’s roster are transferring to similar programs, including David Castillo, who has committed to Santa Clara. The broader point is this: Alexander has a sharp sense of where momentum is building, and he’s put together a roster that reflects that ability.
If the right pieces continue to fall into place, there’s a real chance this team follows an upward path similar to the one Jerome Tang engineered in 2023 but with a greater emphasis on sustained success through retention and year-over-year development.
If that holds true, there’s plenty of reason for optimism, and little risk of a collapse or a buyout ever being called into question.
