Kansas State’s Backcourt Takes a Hit as Dug McDaniel Enters Transfer Portal, Brendan Hausen Commits to Iowa
Kansas State’s basketball roster continues to shift as two more key pieces from last season head in different directions. On Monday, guard Dug McDaniel officially announced via social media that he is entering the NCAA transfer portal, while fellow guard Brendan Hausen confirmed he will finish his college career at Iowa.
McDaniel, a 5-foot-11 guard who transferred to K-State from Michigan last offseason, was a key contributor for the Wildcats. He finished as the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 11.4 points per game, along with 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals. Known for his quickness and playmaking, McDaniel often served as the engine of the offense throughout the season.
Hausen, who transferred from Villanova, also made his presence felt as a sharp-shooting threat from the perimeter. He averaged 10.9 points per game and connected on nearly 39 percent of his three-point attempts. His decision to transfer to Iowa comes just a week after entering the portal.
Both players were part of head coach Jerome Tang’s transfer haul last offseason, but now their exits add to what’s becoming a sizable turnover in the program.
Alongside McDaniel’s departure, two reserve big men — Ugonna Onyenso and Baye Fall — also made their transfers official on Monday. Backup forward Macaleab Rich had already entered the portal earlier in the offseason, and starting forwards David N’Guessan and Coleman Hawkins have both graduated, exhausting their eligibility.
The departures leave Tang with a significant rebuilding task following a disappointing 16-17 campaign (9-11 in Big 12 play), just one year removed from a deeper postseason run that raised expectations in Manhattan.
There is some incoming help on the way. K-State has landed Monmouth transfer guard Abdi Bashir Jr. from the portal and will also benefit from the midseason eligibility of forward Tyreek Smith, who transferred from Memphis and is expected to play a role in the frontcourt.
As Tang and his staff look to reshape the roster heading into the 2024-25 season, the Wildcats are bracing for what could be a very different-looking team — one that will need to gel quickly if they hope to bounce back in the always-competitive Big 12.
